Middle East emergency
Middle East emergency
The significant military escalation in the Middle East that started on 28 February 2026 has claimed civilian lives, damaged and destroyed vital infrastructure and forced millions of people to flee their homes, requiring an immediate response across the region.
Countries involved in preparedness and response efforts: Afghanistan | Armenia | Iraq | Islamic Republic of Iran | Lebanon | Pakistan | Republic of Türkiye | Syrian Arab Republic | Turkmenistan
people displaced in Lebanon since 2 March 2026
households have temporarily left their homes across Iran (according to government data)
people crossed from Lebanon into Syria, including 180,000 Syrians and 20,000 Lebanese
Are you a refugee, asylum-seeker or stateless person looking for help? Visit the HELP site to find support and services from UNHCR.
Escalating attacks in the Middle East deepen humanitarian crisis
Escalating attacks in Iran and Lebanon and the spread of conflict across the Middle East are devastating communities.
Even before the recent escalation, more than 24 million people across the affected countries were already forcibly displaced and returnees facing significant protection risks and humanitarian needs, alongside host communities.
Across the region, UNHCR operations have adjusted modalities to ensure staff safety while continuing to deliver critical activities such as border monitoring, protection services, distribution of emergency relief items and cash assistance.
With its longstanding presence in Iran – including operational reception areas, helplines and ongoing support services – UNHCR is adapting its response to growing needs, working with national authorities and partners to assess emerging requirements and strengthen preparedness as population movements increase.
What is UNHCR doing to help?
In Iran, where UNHCR has the largest presence of any UN agency, we are working with UN partners and NGOs to deliver assistance where possible, including to refugees, Afghans in need of international protection and their host communities.
UNHCR provides protection support via hotlines and in-person appointments and is scaling up cash assistance to help people afford the basics as prices skyrocket. In neighbouring countries, UNHCR is present at borders and strengthening preparedness measures in the event of large scale arrivals.
In Lebanon, UNHCR is delivering emergency relief items and working with the government and partners to provide shelter and protection support to Lebanese families and Syrian refugees.
What are the UN and partners doing to help?
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is working with governments, UN partners and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to provide life-saving humanitarian assistance in affected countries across the region and to maintain critical services for existing refugee populations.
In Iran, the inter-agency refugee response is coordinated by UNHCR through the Refugee Coordination Forum alongside the UN Resident Coordinator and the United Nations Country Team. Partners are reinforcing response capacity mapping and contingency planning, building on decades of cooperation with national systems and institutions.
In neighbouring countries, UNHCR and UN partners are assessing emerging needs and strengthening preparedness to ensure that protection services and emergency assistance can be rapidly scaled up if required.
