Alarmed by war's impact on civilians worldwide: UN Human Rights Chief

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk said 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.

“The foreseeable impacts on civilians and the environment of these strikes raise serious questions as to the 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 crisis is already having a wider impact, with increasing 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.

An oil price surge will have knock-on effects on macroeconomic 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 some 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.