Geneva: The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday warned that a two-week ceasefire in Iran provides only limited relief and does little to address the worsening health crisis across the Middle East. “The two-week ceasefire is a reprieve in Iran though not Lebanon; in itself, it will not address the challenges of health needs across the Middle East, and humanitarian access and operational space are critical challenges,” the agency said in its latest situation report.

According to Anadolu Agency, WHO highlighted that attacks on health care have surged across the region, undermining health systems and violating international humanitarian law, with the impact “particularly pronounced in Lebanon.” The report documented 106 attacks on health care in Lebanon, affecting hospitals, ambulances, and health workers, resulting in 57 deaths and 158 injuries. Access to care remains limited, especially for displaced populations.

The report also noted 23 reported attacks against health care in Iran, which resulted in nine deaths, and six attacks were verified in Israel with no casualties reported. The agency further warned that the conflict has damaged civilian infrastructure, “particularly energy and desalination facilities,” noting four strikes on water desalination sites in Iran, Bahrain, and Kuwait. It emphasized that many countries in the region depend on desalination for 70-100% of their drinking water, with disruptions posing risks of shortages, hospital shutdowns, and disease outbreaks.

WHO added that the delivery of humanitarian health supplies is constrained by airspace restrictions and rising transport costs, although “no significant shortages of medical supplies have been reported.” The agency warned that key health threats include trauma injuries, disrupted care, disease spread in shelters, environmental risks, and worsening mental health conditions amid ongoing violence and displacement.