War Leaves Millions Without Homes In Iran And Lebanon

More than 1,500 lives in Iran have already been lost in the attacks carried out by the United States and Israel. Authorities are still holding back the full toll, but what’s already known makes it clear that the scale of suffering is far greater than what’s being reported. The relentless attacks have also forced millions from their homes.

According to the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, around 3.2 million Iranians, over three percent of the population, have been uprooted and are now living as internally displaced since the strikes began on February 28. Neighbours of Iran and humanitarian groups are reportedly preparing for a surge of people fleeing the violence, fearing the situation could turn into a full-blown refugee crisis.

The destruction across Iran is immense. More than 85,000 civilian sites have been hit since the fighting began, including over 64,500 homes, 600 schools, and nearly 300 healthcare facilities. In Tehran, city officials reported that around 14,000 homes have been damaged, forcing at least 6,000 people into municipal hotels. Beyond homes, hospitals, refineries, desalination plants, and even nuclear facilities have not been spared, leaving countless people displaced and struggling.

The displacement crisis isn’t limited to Iran. In southern Lebanon, Israel has widened its forced evacuation orders, affecting a huge swath of land. The Norwegian Refugee Council says more than 1,470 square kilometers—around 14 percent of Lebanon—is now under mandatory evacuation. Israeli troops are pushing further into southern Lebanon under the pretext of creating a “buffer zone", but their actions are uprooting ordinary civilians. In just two weeks, nearly 18 percent of the country’s population—almost one in five people—have been driven from their homes. According to Lebanon’s Health Ministry, Israel’s assaults have claimed the lives of at least 1,116 people and left more than 3,200 others injured.

The flood of people fleeing their homes has overwhelmed Lebanon’s shelters. With many centres already full, families are forced to spend nights on the streets, in cars, or in public spaces, and for many, this isn’t the first time they’ve faced such hardship. Over the past two weeks, more than 250,000 people have left the country. By destroying bridges across the Litani River, Israel has also blocked critical escape routes, leaving civilians in southern Lebanon trapped and cut off from the rest of the country.

The attacks by the US and Israel have shattered lives and homes across Iran and Lebanon, leaving civilians trapped and desperate. Their relentless aggression has turned entire regions into zones of fear and suffering.