Conflict in the Middle East deepens health crisis, warns WHO

The Conflict’s Heavy Toll on Regional Health Systems

The recent surge in fighting across the Middle East is creating a severe health crisis that goes far beyond the initial casualties. More than ten days after the latest escalation, health systems throughout the region are feeling the pressure as injuries and displacement climb, attacks on medical facilities continue, and public health dangers grow. Health officials in Iran report over 1,300 deaths and 9,000 injuries. In Lebanon, authorities report at least 570 deaths and more than 1,400 injuries. In Israel, officials report 15 deaths and 2,142 injuries.

These numbers tell only part of the story. The true scope of the crisis includes the breakdown of the very services meant to save lives. When hospitals close or come under attack, everyone in the region suffers.

Attacks on Health Care: A Direct Threat to Civilians

At the same time, the conflict is harming the very services meant to save lives. In Iran, the World Health Organization has confirmed 18 attacks on health care since February 28, which killed 8 health workers. Over the same period in Lebanon, 25 attacks on health care have caused 16 deaths and 29 injuries. These attacks not only cost lives but also leave communities without care when they need it most.

Health workers, patients, and medical facilities must always be protected under international law. Experts from organizations like the World Health Organization and the International Red Cross repeatedly stress that attacking health care is a violation of the rules of war. When ambulances cannot reach the wounded, or clinics are forced to shut their doors, the most vulnerable people pay the price.

How This Affects You and Your Community

Even if you live far from the conflict zone, the ripple effects can be felt. Disruptions to global medical supply chains mean that essential medicines and equipment may become harder to obtain in other countries. Additionally, when health systems collapse in one region, it can lead to the spread of diseases that do not respect borders. For readers in the region, the message is clear: if you or a loved one needs emergency care, access may be severely limited or delayed.

Displacement Creates a Public Health Emergency

Beyond the immediate harm, the conflict is creating broader public health threats. Current estimates show that more than 100,000 people in Iran have moved to other parts of the country because of insecurity. Up to 700,000 people have been forced from their homes in Lebanon, with many living in crowded shelters under worsening conditions, with little access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene.

These conditions raise the risk of respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases, and other contagious illnesses, especially for the most vulnerable groups, such as women and children. Experts warn that outbreaks of cholera, measles, and other preventable diseases become much more likely when people are packed into shelters without proper sanitation. Children are especially at risk because their immune systems are still developing.

What Experts Say About Displacement and Disease

Public health experts agree that displacement is one of the most dangerous consequences of any conflict. When people lose their homes, they also lose access to routine medical care, vaccinations, and clean water. Dr. Mike Ryan, a leading expert in global health security, has often said that in conflicts, “the biggest killer is not the bullet, but the breakdown of public health systems.” This means that diseases which are normally easy to prevent or treat can become deadly.

Environmental Dangers Add to the Crisis

Environmental dangers are also a growing concern. In Iran, petroleum fires and smoke from damaged infrastructure have exposed nearby communities to toxic pollutants. These can cause breathing problems, eye and skin irritation, and contaminate water and food sources. For people with asthma, lung disease, or weakened immune systems, this pollution can be life-threatening.

Long-term exposure to these toxins can also lead to chronic health problems, including cancer and heart disease. Families may not realize that the air they are breathing or the water they are drinking is making them sick. This silent threat can affect entire communities for years after the fighting stops.

Access to Health Services Is Shrinking

Access to health services is becoming harder across several countries. In Lebanon, 49 primary health care centers and five hospitals have closed after evacuation orders from Israel’s military. This reduces the availability of essential care as medical needs increase. In the occupied Palestinian territory, tighter movement restrictions and checkpoint closures are delaying ambulances and mobile clinics in several areas of the West Bank.

In Gaza, medical evacuations have been suspended since February 28. Hospitals continue to operate under strain amid ongoing shortages of medicines, medical supplies, and fuel, which is being rationed to prioritize essential services like emergency and trauma care, maternal and newborn care, and treatment for contagious diseases. For a pregnant woman needing an emergency C-section, or a child with a severe infection, these delays can mean the difference between life and death.

Practical Takeaways for Affected Communities

If you are living in or near the conflict zone, here are some steps you can take to protect your health:

• Stay informed: Listen to local health authorities for updates on safe water sources and clinic locations.
• Practice good hygiene: Wash hands frequently with soap and clean water, or use hand sanitizer if water is scarce.
• Seek care early: Do not wait until symptoms become severe. If a clinic is open, go as soon as you feel unwell.
• Protect children and elderly: These groups are most vulnerable to disease and dehydration. Ensure they drink clean water and avoid crowded areas if possible.
• Use masks if air quality is poor: If you are near smoke or toxic fumes, a simple cloth mask can reduce some irritation.

Supply Chain Disruptions Worsen the Crisis

Temporary airspace restrictions have disrupted the transport of medical supplies from WHO’s global logistics hub in Dubai. More than 50 emergency supply requests, meant to help over 1.5 million people across 25 countries, are affected, causing major backlogs. Current priority shipments include supplies planned for Al Arish, Egypt, to support the Gaza response, as well as Lebanon and Afghanistan. The first shipment, containing cholera response supplies for Mozambique, is expected to leave the hub in the coming week.

This means that even countries not directly involved in the conflict may face delays in receiving critical medicines, vaccines, and equipment. For example, a cholera outbreak in Mozambique could worsen if supplies are stuck in transit. The backlog shows how interconnected global health systems truly are.

A Region Already Under Strain

This escalation comes at a time when humanitarian needs in the Eastern Mediterranean Region were already among the highest in the world. Across the region, 115 million people need humanitarian assistance — nearly half of all people in need globally — while humanitarian health emergency appeals remain 70% underfunded.

Experts point out that this funding gap is not new, but it is becoming more dangerous. Without enough money, aid organizations cannot pre-position supplies, hire enough staff, or maintain mobile clinics. The result is that when a crisis like this conflict hits, the response is slower and less effective. Vulnerable people pay the price with their health and lives.

What Can Be Done: A Call for Action

Without protection for health care, steady humanitarian access, and stronger financial and operational support for the health response, the strain on vulnerable people and already weak health systems will keep growing. WHO calls on all sides to protect civilians and health care, allow free and continuous humanitarian access, and work to reduce the conflict so communities can begin to recover and move toward peace.

For readers who want to help, consider supporting reputable humanitarian organizations that are actively working in the region. Donations to groups like the World Health Organization, Doctors Without Borders, or the International Committee of the Red Cross can directly fund medical supplies, mobile clinics, and clean water projects. Even small contributions can make a difference when resources are stretched thin.

Final Thoughts

The health crisis in the Middle East is not just a matter of numbers. It is about real people — mothers, children, elderly patients, and health workers — who are caught in the crossfire. The attacks on hospitals, the spread of disease in shelters, and the disruption of medical supply chains all point to one urgent truth: health care must be protected, and humanitarian access must be guaranteed. Only then can communities begin to heal and move toward a more peaceful future.

Medical Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any decisions about your health or treatment.