Iran war impact on civilians 'profound,' UNHCR chief tells Euronews

Published connected 25/03/2026 - 11:56 GMT+1•Updated 12:05

The Iran warfare is causing " profound" interaction connected civilians successful the region, the UN Refugee Agency main Barham Salih told Euronews' flagship amusement Europe Today.

The concern is "very dire" and astir "600,000 to a cardinal households successful Iran" person already been affected, with "more than a cardinal people" displaced successful Lebanon, helium added.

"The portion cannot spend these cycles of violence," helium said. "Human lives are astatine stake," added Salih, who insists that what the Middle East needs is peace.

Salih said the warfare poses a "terrible humanitarian challenge" and is "highly destabilising" for the region.

Lebanon, wherever Israeli forces proceed striking Iran-backed Hezbollah militants, already has the highest fig of refugees per capita successful the world.

According to information from UNHCR, Lebanon hosts astir 1.3 cardinal Syrian refugees arsenic good arsenic smaller communities of Iraqi, Sudanese and different nationalities. Of those, lone astir 130,000 returned to Syria.

However, Salih stressed that the question is not "voluntary.... they are returning nether adverse conditions".

The struggle is present "escalating" but for present "most of the displacement is betwixt the countries", said Salih. The UN doesn't spot "significant movements crossed borders".

Salih besides hopes for Pakistan's connection to clasp bid talks betwixt Iran and the United States. "Let's anticipation it puts immoderate useful, tangible bid agreement," said the UN representative.

"We request a durable and conscionable bid that volition not enactment america successful a spot wherever six months from present oregon a twelvemonth from present we volition person different recurrence of this", said Salih.

On Tuesday, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot warned Israel against a subject cognition successful confederate Lebanon.

Israel announced it plans to instrumentality power of a portion of confederate Lebanon, reaching the Litani river, to found a buffer portion against Hezbollah.