ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - Up to 3.2 million people have been displaced within Iran in less than two weeks since the start of the Iran-Israel-US war, the United Nations refugee agency reported on Thursday, noting that the crisis also involves a significant refugee population within the country, now facing secondary displacement.
Ayaki Ito, head of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) emergency support team, stated that “between 600,000 and one million Iranian households are now temporarily displaced inside Iran as a result of the ongoing conflict, according to preliminary assessments, representing up to 3.2 million people.”
He added that among those affected “are refugee families hosted in the country, mostly Afghans, who are particularly vulnerable given their already precarious situation and limited support networks,” warning that “families are leaving affected areas amid rising insecurity and limited access to essential services.”
Ito emphasized that UNHCR underscores “the urgent need to protect civilians, maintain humanitarian access, and ensure borders remain open to those seeking safety, in line with international obligations.”
The US and Israel on February 28 launched a joint aerial campaign against Iran, killing several of the country’s top leaders and commanders, including long-time supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (1939 - 2026).