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Rachel V Thomas

Middle East Crisis Disrupting Health Services, Fueling Diseases & Environmental Hazards: WHO

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has stretched to more than 10 days, is disrupting health services and fueling the risk of several infectious diseases as well as environmental hazards, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.

Citing national health authorities, the WHO reported casualties:

<ul><li>Iran - over 1,300 died, 9,000 injured </li><li>Lebanon - 570 people died and more than 1,400 injured </li><li>Israel - 15 died and 2,142 injured. </li></ul> In a statement, the WHO said it verified several attacks on health care workers since February 28. This has disrupted health facilities, leading to shortages of medicines, medical supplies, and fuel in hospitals.

<ul><li>Iran </li></ul>- 18 attacks on healthcare facilities,

<ul><li>Lebanon </li></ul>- 25 attacks on healthcare sites

- 16 deaths and 29 injuries to health care workers.

"The conflict is affecting the very services meant to save lives," the WHO said.

"These attacks not only cost lives but deprive communities of care when they need it most. Health workers, patients, and health facilities must always be protected under international humanitarian law,” it added. 

Notably, the conflict is also collapsing health system with the shutdown of critical medical services:

<ul><li>Lebanon - 49 primary health care centers and 5 hospitals shut down. </li><li>Occupied Palestinian territory - ambulances and mobile clinics access delayed. </li><li>Gaza - medical evacuations suspended since 28 February</li><li>WHO’s global logistics hub in Dubai - disruption in movement of medical supplies</li></ul>

Francesca Quinto, Desk Manager at Doctors Without Borders, in an update social media platform X informed the threat to healthcare facilities in Lebanon.

"Our teams are witnessing the suffering up close: hospitals under pressure, communities repeatedly displaced and humanitarian needs rising sharply. Civilians and healthcare facilities must be protected and access to care and safety must be guaranteed," Quinto said.

The global health body also flagged wider public health risks due to the crisis, driving up disease risks among people displaced and living in shelter camps with limited access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. 

As per current estimates, more than 100,000 people in Iran have relocated to other areas of the country due to insecurity, and up to 700,000 people have been internally displaced in Lebanon. 

"These conditions increase the risk of respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, and other communicable illnesses, especially for the most vulnerable populations, such as women and children," the WHO said. 

<h2>Black Rain And Environmental Hazard</h2>

In addition, the Middle East crisis is also increasing concerns over environmental hazards. The petroleum fires and smoke from damaged infrastructure in Iran are potentially causing breathing problems, eye and skin irritation, and contaminated water and food sources.

Recently, Iran saw <a href="https://www.healthandme.com/health-wellness/black-rain-over-irans-capital-tehran-sparks-health-fears-article-153790647" data-type="tilCustomLink">black rainfall</a> after overnight Israeli strikes on several fuel depots caused fires to burn for hours.

Iran's Red Crescent Society had warned the residents of Tehran and the surrounding region that the rainfall after the strikes could be "highly dangerous and acidic", and could cause "chemical burns of the skin and serious damage to the lungs".

The WHO called on all countries to de-escalate the conflict and "to protect civilians and health care, ensure unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access". 

The WHO Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, shared concerns about the rising global military expenditure and the rising world hunger rates.

"Global military expenditure just hit $2.7 trillion - in a single year. According to the UN estimates, ending world hunger by 2030 would require $93 billion annually. That means we spend almost 30 times more every year on killing each other than on making sure everyone eats. Numbers don't lie. Our priorities do," he said, in a post on social media platform X.

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The ongoing conflict in the Middle East, which has stretched to more than 10 days, is disrupting health services and fueling the risk of several infectious diseases as well as environmental hazards, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said.Citing national health authorities, the WHO reported casualties: Iran - over 1,300 died, 9,000 injured Lebanon - 570 people died and more than 1,400 injured Israel - 15 died and 2,142 injured.  In a statement, the WHO said it verified several attacks on health care workers since February 28. This has disrupted health facilities, leading to shortages of medicines, medical supplies, and fuel in hospitals.These include:Iran - 18 attacks on healthcare facilities, - 8 deaths among health workersLebanon - 25 attacks on healthcare sites- 16 deaths and 29 injuries to health care workers."The conflict is affecting the very services meant to save lives," the WHO said."These attacks not only cost lives but deprive communities of care when they need it most. Health workers, patients, and health facilities must always be protected under international humanitarian law,” it added. Notably, the conflict is also collapsing health system with the shutdown of critical medical services:Lebanon - 49 primary health care centers and 5 hospitals shut down. Occupied Palestinian territory - ambulances and mobile clinics access delayed. Gaza - medical evacuations suspended since 28 FebruaryWHO’s global logistics hub in Dubai -  disruption in movement of medical suppliesFrancesca Quinto, Desk Manager at Doctors Without Borders, in an update social media platform X informed the threat to healthcare facilities in Lebanon."Our teams are witnessing the suffering up close: hospitals under pressure, communities repeatedly displaced and humanitarian needs rising sharply. Civilians and healthcare facilities must be protected and access to care and safety must be guaranteed," Quinto said.      Our teams are witnessing the suffering up close: hospitals under pressure, communities repeatedly displaced and humanitarian needs rising sharply.Civilians and healthcare facilities must be protected and access to care and safety must be guaranteed. pic.twitter.com/Pt9rPxhDHQ&mdash; Doctors Without Borders / Médecins Sans Frontières (@MSF_canada) March 10, 2026 ]]>The global health body also flagged wider public health risks due to the crisis, driving up disease risks among people displaced and living in shelter camps with limited access to safe water, sanitation, and hygiene. As per current estimates, more than 100,000 people in Iran have relocated to other areas of the country due to insecurity, and up to 700,000 people have been internally displaced in Lebanon. "These conditions increase the risk of respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, and other communicable illnesses, especially for the most vulnerable populations, such as women and children," the WHO said. Black Rain And Environmental HazardIn addition, the Middle East crisis is also increasing concerns over environmental hazards. The petroleum fires and smoke from damaged infrastructure in Iran are potentially causing breathing problems, eye and skin irritation, and contaminated water and food sources. Recently, Iran saw black rainfall after overnight Israeli strikes on several fuel depots caused fires to burn for hours. Iran's Red Crescent Society had warned the residents of Tehran and the surrounding region that the rainfall after the strikes could be "highly dangerous and acidic", and could cause "chemical burns of the skin and serious damage to the lungs". Call For De-escalation The WHO called on all countries to de-escalate the conflict and "to protect civilians and health care, ensure unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access". The WHO Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, shared concerns about the rising global military expenditure and the rising world hunger rates.  "Global military expenditure just hit $2.7 trillion - in a single year. According to the UN estimates, ending world hunger by 2030 would require $93 billion annually. That means we spend almost 30 times more every year on killing each other than on making sure everyone eats. Numbers don't lie. Our priorities do," he said, in a post on social media platform X.      Global military expenditure just hit $2.7 trillion - in a single year. According to @UN estimates, ending world hunger by 2030 would require $93 billion annually.That means we spend almost 30 times more every year on killing each other than on making sure everyone eats.… pic.twitter.com/TlS9MI1XUa&mdash; Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) March 11, 2026 ]]>

middle east crisis disrupting health services, fueling diseases & environmental hazards: who

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Middle East Crisis Disrupting Health Services, Fueling Diseases & Environmental Hazards: WHO

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