Key Situation

A month after the outbreak of the war in the Middle East, the humanitarian crisis has reached a serious level as attacks on medical facilities and mass displacement continue in Iran and Lebanon. According to reports from multiple international organizations, there have been 21 attacks on medical staff and medical facilities in Iran since the outbreak of war, and in Lebanon, more than 1 million people have fled their homes in just a few weeks.

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that the transport of relief supplies through the Dubai logistics hub has entered a 'normalization track', but the situation on the ground is still dire.

Why is it important?

There are three main reasons why this situation is raising concerns in the international community.

First, it is a systematic attack on medical infrastructure. According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), 17 Red Crescent centers were hit in Iran, and nearly 100 ambulances were damaged or destroyed. Maria Martinez, IFRC Representative to Iran, emphasized that “ambulances are not just vehicles; they are the only hope people have when bombs fall.”

Second, it is failure to protect civilians. In Lebanon, while the Israeli military's airstrikes on Hezbollah-related targets are intensifying, there are cases where air strike warnings are given for less than an hour or not at all. “There is no place that has been declared safe for civilians,” said Carolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR’s representative in Lebanon.

Third, blocks access to relief. Israeli forces destroyed major bridges in southern Lebanon, leaving some areas completely isolated. This makes both civilian evacuation and humanitarian assistance difficult.

When did this trend start?

The current crisis in the Middle East has rapidly worsened since the outbreak of full-scale war on February 28, 2024. Iran's attacks across the Gulf region have significantly reduced air cargo traffic, and most airlines are now operating at only 50 to 60 percent of normal capacity.

Although Tehran is a large city with a population of about 9 million, it feels "completely empty," a local aid official said. Southern cities are experiencing water and power outages, and a nationwide internet shutdown has been in place since February 28.

Humanitarian workers are also working under extreme personal suffering. One IFRC search and rescue worker found the bodies of his family in the rubble, while another rescuer from Qom district had to retrieve his aunt, her husband and their young child.

Future outlook [AI analysis]

If the current situation continues, the humanitarian crisis in the Middle East is likely to worsen. If attacks on medical facilities and relief infrastructure continue, the ability to treat the injured and sick may be drastically reduced.

The number of displaced people in Lebanon has already exceeded 1 million, and this number is expected to increase further if regional isolation due to the destruction of bridges expands. “Women and girls are forced to make the devastating choice of leaving their homes in the middle of the night with no destination, losing their entire families’ livelihoods,” the UN Women representative in Lebanon testified.

From Korea's perspective, instability in the Middle East could potentially impact energy supply and shipping logistics. In particular, disruptions in air cargo transportation in the Gulf region are likely to have a cascading effect on the global supply chain, so relevant industries need to pay attention.

WHO said it was preparing a convoy of essential medicines to the Gaza Strip via Egypt. The speed of relief material delivery may improve if additional charter flights are deployed, but for a fundamental solution, the will of the parties to the conflict to protect civilians and the international community's diplomatic efforts will likely need to go hand in hand.