WHO: Concerns over air pollution in Middle East due to Iran war

CAIRO – 13 March 2026: The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned in a newly issued report that strikes targeting oil storage facilities and refineries in the Middle East pose a direct threat of severe air pollution.

The report highlights that strikes in Iran, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia are raising significant concerns regarding air quality and wider regional environmental exposure, alongside the immediate health impacts of the ongoing conflict.

WHO noted that national authorities in Iran have reported 1,255 deaths and more than 15,100 injuries. Meanwhile, Lebanon has reported 634 deaths and over 1,586 injuries.

Current estimates indicate that more than 100,000 people have been displaced within Iran, and over 800,000 have been displaced in Lebanon. Many of those displaced are seeking refuge in overcrowded collective shelters where public health conditions continue to deteriorate.

The organization has verified 18 attacks on healthcare facilities in Iran, resulting in eight deaths, and 25 attacks in Lebanon, resulting in 16 deaths and 29 injuries.

These incidents have further disrupted essential health services. In other directly affected areas, including Lebanon, the conflict has forced the closure of 48 primary healthcare centers and five hospitals.

In Gaza and the West Bank, crossings into the Gaza Strip remain largely closed. Movement restrictions and checkpoints in the West Bank are delaying ambulance transfers and critical patient referrals. Additionally, the increased number of people crossing the border from Lebanon into Syria has led to a surge in demand for health services in Syrian border regions.

In Iraq, the evolving security situation and movement restrictions are placing immense pressure on hospitals and disease surveillance activities, while road closures are hindering ambulance movement and the delivery of essential medicines.

Regarding the GCC countries, health systems remain fully operational and are currently focused on emergency preparedness.

While national authorities have activated emergency plans and strengthened the monitoring of environmental and radiological risks, WHO reiterates that strikes on oil infrastructure in Iran, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia remain a primary source of concern for air pollution and regional environmental health.