WHO warns of health risks from 'black rain'

GENEVA: The World Health Organization warned on Tuesday that ​the 'black rain' falling ​in Iran after strikes on oil facilities could cause respiratory problems, and it backed Iran’s advisory urging people to remain indoors. The UN health agency, which has an office in ⁠Iran and works with authorities on health emergencies, ⁠said it has received multiple reports of oil-laden rain this week. Tehran was choked in black smoke on Monday after an oil refinery was ​hit, in ⁠an escalation in strikes on Iran's domestic ​energy supplies as part of the US-Israeli campaign.
'The black rain and the acidic rain coming ​with it is indeed a danger for the population, respiratory mainly,' WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier told a press briefing in Geneva, adding that Iran had advised people to stay indoors. Asked whether the WHO backed that ​advice, he said: 'Given what is at risk right now, ​the oil ⁠storage facilities, the refineries that have been struck, triggering fires, bringing serious air quality concerns, that ​is definitely a good idea.' One video ⁠sent to ​Reuters by a WHO staff member showed what they said was a cleaner mopping up black liquid at its office entrance in Tehran ​on March 8. Reuters was not ​able to independently verify the footage. — AFP