Middle East Conflict Puts Health Systems Under Severe Strain, Warns WHO

Health systems across parts of the Middle East are coming under intense pressure as the ongoing escalation of conflict continues to cause rising casualties, large-scale displacement, and repeated attacks on healthcare facilities, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.

More than eleven days into the latest surge of hostilities, the situation is rapidly evolving into a major public health emergency, with hospitals struggling to cope with mounting injuries while thousands of people are forced to flee their homes.

According to national health authorities, Iran has reported more than 1,300 deaths and over 9,000 injuries linked to the conflict. In Lebanon, officials have confirmed at least 570 deaths and more than 1,400 injuries. Meanwhile, in Israel, authorities say 15 people have been killed and over 2,100 injured, the WHO said in a statement.

Health experts warn that the crisis is being compounded by attacks on the very facilities meant to save lives. The WHO has verified multiple assaults on healthcare infrastructure and personnel since late February.

In Iran, the agency has documented 18 attacks on health facilities since February 28, resulting in the deaths of eight healthcare workers. In Lebanon, 25 attacks on health facilities have been recorded over the same period, leaving 16 people dead and 29 others injured.

“These attacks not only claim lives but also deprive communities of vital medical care when they need it most,” health officials said, stressing that health workers, patients, and medical facilities must be protected under international humanitarian law.

The humanitarian crisis is further deepening as large numbers of people flee violence and seek refuge in overcrowded shelters. In Iran, estimates suggest that more than 100,000 people have relocated to safer areas within the country.

The situation in Lebanon is even more severe, with up to 700,000 people believed to be internally displaced. Many are now living in crowded collective shelters where living conditions are deteriorating rapidly.

Public health experts warn that such conditions create fertile ground for disease outbreaks. Limited access to safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, and hygiene supplies is increasing the risk of respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, and other communicable illnesses.

Women, children, and elderly people are particularly vulnerable in these environments, where healthcare services are already stretched thin.

Environmental hazards are also emerging as a serious concern. In Iran, petroleum fires and smoke from damaged infrastructure have exposed nearby communities to toxic pollutants. These pollutants can trigger breathing problems, eye and skin irritation, and may contaminate water and food sources.

Access to healthcare is becoming increasingly restricted across several parts of the region.

In Lebanon, at least 49 primary healthcare centers and five hospitals have shut down following evacuation orders issued by Israel’s military. The closures have sharply reduced the availability of essential medical services at a time when the demand for treatment is surging, noted the global health agency.

In the West Bank, part of the Occupied Palestinian Territory, movement restrictions and checkpoint closures are delaying ambulances and mobile medical teams attempting to reach patients across several districts.

Meanwhile, in the Gaza Strip, medical evacuations have remained suspended since February 28. Hospitals there continue to function under extreme pressure, grappling with critical shortages of medicines, medical supplies, and fuel.

Fuel supplies are being rationed carefully to ensure that essential services such as emergency trauma care, maternal and neonatal treatment, and the management of infectious diseases can continue.

Logistical challenges are also beginning to disrupt international humanitarian operations.

Temporary airspace restrictions have slowed the movement of medical supplies from the WHO’s global logistics hub in Dubai. As a result, more than 50 emergency supply shipments intended to support over 1.5 million people across 25 countries have been delayed, said the WHO.

Priority shipments currently awaiting clearance include medical supplies bound for Al Arish to support relief efforts in Gaza, as well as consignments for Lebanon and Afghanistan.

One shipment carrying cholera response supplies for Mozambique is expected to depart from the logistics hub in the coming week.

The escalation is unfolding at a time when humanitarian needs across the Eastern Mediterranean region were already among the highest in the world.

According to WHO estimates, nearly 115 million people in the region currently require humanitarian assistance—accounting for almost half of all people in need globally. At the same time, health emergency appeals remain severely underfunded, with nearly 70% of required resources yet to be secured.

Humanitarian agencies warn that without urgent protection for healthcare facilities, unhindered humanitarian access, and stronger financial support for emergency health programs, the crisis could deepen further.

Calling upon all parties involved in the conflict to ensure the protection of civilians and health infrastructure, the WHO has sought to allow uninterrupted humanitarian assistance and work toward de-escalation so affected communities can begin the long and difficult process of recovery.