GENEVA (10 March 2026) – UN Human
Rights Chief Volker Türk said today he was alarmed by the
deepening impact of the Middle East crisis on civilians,
deploring extensive attacks in residential areas, as well as
other essential services, including health facilities,
educational institutions, cultural property, and water and
energy infrastructure.
“The strikes against vital
civilian infrastructure in the Middle East – as well as
the widening geographic spread of strikes – are further
increasing risks for populations across the region, and
beyond,” the High Commissioner said.
“Under the
laws of war, civilians and civilian infrastructure must be
protected at all costs. All parties are bound by these
rules, and must be held to account if they do
not.”
“The world is watching.”
In Iran, a
water desalination plant and fuel facilities were hit over
the weekend, with oil spilling into the streets and fires
igniting along roadside drainage lines. On Qeshm Island in
Hormozgan Province, an attack on a water desalination plant
reportedly disrupted water access for at least 30
villages.
Following the attacks, Iran’s Red Crescent
Society warned that the rainfall in the country could be
“highly dangerous and acidic” and could cause chemical burns
and serious lung damage.
“I am deeply worried about
the health and environmental consequences people will suffer
as a result of these oil fires, including acid rain
contamination,” Türk said.
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“The foreseeable
impacts on civilians and the environment of these strikes
raise serious questions as to compliance of these attacks
with the requirements of international humanitarian law of
proportionality and precaution. This warrants careful legal
scrutiny.”
Attacks across the region have also
caused civilian casualties and affected civilian
infrastructure. This includes a desalination plant in
Bahrain, which provides crucial access to water for
many.
“This apparent tit-for-tat dynamic, involving
essential infrastructure with extremely significant civilian
impacts, will only increase risks for civilian populations
more broadly, with potentially dire consequences across the
entire region,” the High Commissioner said.
The
impact of the crisis is already being felt further afield,
with widening harm to people and their livelihoods
worldwide. Migrant workers in the Gulf region are
particularly vulnerable, with several already killed and
injured and others trapped, unable to return home. Important
flows of remittances to their families and countries are
also at risk.
The plunge in commercial shipping
activity across the Strait of Hormuz is having a severe
impact on access to energy, food and fertilizer for people
in the region and beyond – particularly for the world’s
most vulnerable. Some countries are already experiencing
educational, work and transport restrictions, as well as
direct losses to the tourism and other sectors.
The
impact of an oil price surge will have a knock-on effect for
macro-economic and social stability in many countries,
particularly those already experiencing debt distress.
Clearly, investment in renewable energy has become all the
more critical, the High Commissioner said.
Türk also
expressed concern about reports of detentions, charges and
other forms of repression and intimidation against people in
a number of countries, with respect to their expression of
opinions around the conflict in the Middle
East.
“States are reminded of their obligation under
international human rights law to respect and protect
people’s right to freedom of expression – particularly
in times of crisis,” he said, adding all of those
arbitrarily detained must be released immediately and
unconditionally.
