Conflict deepens health crisis across Middle East, WHO says

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Source: WHO News

Original: https://www.who.int/news/item/11-03-2026-conflict-deepens-health-crisis-across-m...

Published: Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:18:29 Z

The conflict in the Middle East is deepening the health crisis, where health systems are facing the strain of increasing injuries, displacement and attacks on health care. In Iran they report more than 1300 deaths and 9000 injured, in Lebanon at least 570 deaths and more than 1400 injured, in Israel 15 dead and 2142 injured. WHO has verified 18 attacks on health services in Iran since February 28, with 8 deaths of health workers, and 25 attacks in Lebanon, with 16 deaths and 29 injuries. More than 100,000 people in Iran and 700,000 in Lebanon are displaced, increasing the risk of respiratory infections, diarrheal diseases and other communicable diseases. In Lebanon, they closed 49 primary care centers and 5 hospitals, in Gaza, medical evacuations are suspended and hospitals suffer from a lack of medicine, supplies and fuel. Airspace restrictions delayed deliveries to 1.5 million people in 25 countries. In the Eastern Mediterranean region, 115 million people are in need of assistance, and humanitarian healthcare funding is 70% insufficient. WHO calls for health protection, humanitarian access and conflict de-escalation.