100,000 people fled Tehran in first 2 days of US-Israeli strikes: UN refugee agency
Report says between 1,000 and 2,000 vehicles departing city daily, primarily heading toward northern provinces
Severe damage is seen at Gandi Hospital in northern Tehran following US and Israeli joint strikes on Tehran, Iran on March 02, 2026.Photo:Fatemeh Bahrami/AA
GENEVA
An estimated 100,000 people fled the Iranian capital Tehran in the first 48 hours of military strikes by the US and Israel, the UN refugee agency said Wednesday.
A situation report from the UNHCR revealed a significant internal exodus, with road police recording between 1,000 and 2,000 vehicles departing the city daily, primarily heading toward northern provinces.
While internal displacement has surged, the report indicated that cross-border movements remain stable for now, as the Islam Qala border crossing with Afghanistan shows "no significant changes." It noted that the Milak crossing reopened on Monday.
Regarding the broader humanitarian landscape, the report said, "the recent escalation of hostilities across Asia and the Middle East has led to a marked deterioration in the humanitarian situation. The affected areas already host 24.6 million forcibly displaced people, many of whom already face significant protection risks and humanitarian needs, alongside host communities."
Current data shows that 275,400 people are now internally displaced, while host communities in Afghanistan, Iran and Lebanon are facing acute protection risks.
