3.2 million people have fled inside Iran in less than two weeks.
Stephan Pronk
Iranian media reported that traffic jams in Tehran on February 28, the day the United States and Israel attacked Iran.
In less than two weeks, 3.2 million people have fled the war inside Iran, according to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR.
The majority have reportedly fled Tehran and other major cities for sparsely populated areas in the north of the country, where airstrikes are less frequent. The refugee agency expects the number to rise, calling it a “worrying increase in humanitarian needs.”
Tehran is the worst-hit city in the country. Airstrikes have continued since the start of the US and Israeli offensives.
Refugee families who have previously fled countries such as Afghanistan are among the most vulnerable, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. They are in an “already fragile situation” and have “limited social safety nets.” The refugee agency has previously reported that there are about 2.6 million Afghans in Iran. The UN High Commissioner for Refugees is calling on the parties to the conflict to “guarantee humanitarian access” and ensure that borders remain open to people seeking safety, in line with international obligations.
The war has intensified and Iranians are fleeing one after another.