MSF alarmed by escalating conflict in the Middle East

On February 28, the United States and Israel launched a major military assault on Iran, including air strikes on the capital, Tehran, and other cities. Iran and Iranian-backed armed groups have responded with a wave of attacks aimed at Israel and Gulf countries, as well as US military and diplomatic targets in the region. The conflict has now spread even wider.

Across the region, the escalation in violence has brought fear to the lives of millions of people. Bombing continues across multiple cities and villages — often hitting densely populated areas — and casualties are mounting. Civilians, hospitals, health facilities, and other essential infrastructure must be protected at all times.

MSF is adapting its programs to respond, and is closely monitoring the rapidly evolving humanitarian needs. Receiving information from our staff has been extremely difficult, but our teams in both Iran and Lebanon are currently confirmed safe. We have medical supplies in both Iran and Lebanon that stand ready to be deployed.

Lebanon

In Lebanon, thousands of people have been displaced. Our teams are adapting activities to respond to the emerging needs of those who’ve been displaced, while ensuring continuity of care across our existing projects in the country.

“The escalation in conflict comes after 15 months of a ‘ceasefire agreement’ that never brought real safety for people in Lebanon,” said MSF Program Manager Francesca Quinto. “The latest strikes and evacuation orders to all of Beirut’s southern suburbs and almost all of the south of the country are now forcing even more people to flee — and there is nowhere safe to go.”

For many people in southern Lebanon and other areas of the country, evacuation orders mean reliving the trauma of displacement all over again.

“Families who were slowly beginning to recover from previous fighting are being told to leave their homes. Some have been stranded on the roads with children, elderly relatives, and sick family members, facing extremely harsh conditions,” Quinto said.

Since March 4, MSF has been providing medical consultations and psychological first aid through its mobile clinic in Saida, southern Lebanon, where some shelters have exceeded capacity. We also started providing shelters in Beirut with clean water and conducting assessments in Beirut, Rashaya, and other areas to begin scaling up mobile clinics and supplies. We are in touch with the relevant authorities to provide additional support where needed.

Iran

Before the escalation on February 28, MSF had been running three projects in Iran, providing essential health care to marginalized people, including Afghan refugees and other vulnerable populations. We were conducting 6,000 medical consultations per month, as well as midwifery care, infectious disease screening and treatment, and mental health support.

While the airstrikes and communication blackout have created operational challenges, MSF has been able to continue some activities.

Our clinic in Tehran remains temporarily closed due to heavy bombing, while our clinics in Mashhad and Kerman are still open, operating with reduced staff. Our teams are seeking authorization from authorities to scale up emergency care support in response to conflict-related needs — opening our clinics 24/7 and supporting the local health systems — and are awaiting a response.

Palestine

Our teams in Gaza and the West Bank continue to address the significant medical and mental health needs on the ground.

In Gaza, we have been providing vital services in approximately 20 health facilities and medical points across the Strip. We treat people injured by explosives, provide care for malnourished children, and offer services for people with chronic diseases.

In the West Bank, our operations have been concentrated in Nablus, Qalqiliya, Tubas, Hebron, Jenin, and Tulkarem. We have been providing mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and general health care via mobile clinics, as well as supporting with water and sanitation in refugee camps.

Even before this regional escalation of conflict, MSF had been struggling to get staff and supplies into Palestine, including surgical equipment, antibiotics and pain medications, and sterile gauze for war wounds.

Iraq

In Iraq, MSF has medical supplies available to be deployed in the region if needed.