UNHCR staff are mobilising across the region, from Iran and Afghanistan to Lebanon and Syria, to support people forced from their homes as the regional crisis intensifies.
Many affected countries already host millions of refugees and internally displaced people. With its established presence and operational footprint, the agency says it is ready to play a central role in the emergency response.
Iran and neighbouring borders
UNHCR is closely monitoring Iran, where it has worked since 1984. It is the largest UN organisation in the country, with offices in Tehran and five field locations.
At the time of the update, the number of people moving within Iran could not be confirmed. The situation remained fluid, and UNHCR was ready to assist at governments' request.
Iran hosts 1.65 million refugees and other people needing international protection.
Despite logistical challenges, UNHCR continues supporting them. Refugee reception centres and helplines remain open, providing counselling and other assistance.
The agency continues supporting health, education and social-protection services. All its staff in the country have been accounted for and are safe.
Even before the conflict, refugees had been affected by Iran's severe economic difficulties. Inflation and living costs eroded fragile incomes, while limited employment access left many unable to meet basic needs.
Tighter controls and deportations increased insecurity, pushing some Afghans to return home in difficult circumstances.
UNHCR is reviewing and strengthening readiness at Iran's main border crossings.
It calls on countries to keep borders open to people fleeing attacks, warning that turning them back would constitute refoulement.
Media reported movement at the Turkey–Iran border, but crossings on Monday remained within normal levels.
Conditions were also stable at Islam Qala on the Afghanistan–Iran border, with limited movement towards Armenia.
Afghanistan and Pakistan
UNHCR expresses particular concern about Afghanistan and says civilian protection, including for refugees and returnees, must remain a priority.
Approximately 5.4 million Afghans have returned from Iran and Pakistan since October 2023, many involuntarily.
More than 232,500 had returned so far in 2026: 146,206 from Pakistan and 86,253 from Iran.
Large-scale, rushed returns substantially increase protection needs and risk further instability in Afghanistan and the region, as well as onward movement.
Hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan have also continued, displacing thousands in Kunar and Nangarhar.
Kunar was affected by the previous year's earthquake and hosts many returnees.
UNHCR and humanitarian partners are ready to respond to increased returns, but resources are already under severe strain from recent mass movements and funding gaps.
Funding cuts have significantly reduced the agency's ability to help returnees.
It needs $454.2 million in 2026 to protect and assist forcibly displaced people in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Central Asia. By the end of February, only 15% had been funded.
In Afghanistan, both Omari transit centre near Torkham and Takhtapul reception centre near Spin Boldak have been hit by attacks.
Torkham remains closed. Spin Boldak is open to returning Afghans.
UNHCR remains on the ground to respond to new displacement or returns.
Its helplines in Pakistan and Afghanistan continue providing counselling and information to refugees and others needing international protection.
Emergency supplies and cash assistance
Emergency stocks across regional and national warehouses are ready for immediate dispatch.
These include supplies in Termez, Uzbekistan, strategically located near Iran.
Stocks comprise family tents, blankets, mattresses, cooking sets, buckets, water containers and solar lights.
If a broader response becomes necessary, emergency cash assistance will be the principal form of support in many countries.
Systems and procedures already operate in Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Pakistan, among others, enabling assistance to scale up quickly.
UNHCR also maintains an emergency staff roster ready for rapid deployment.
Displacement in Lebanon
Significant population movements are taking place in southern Lebanon, the Bekaa Valley and Beirut's southern suburbs following Israeli evacuation orders covering more than 53 villages, amid intensive air strikes across the country.
By Monday, around 30,000 people had been registered and accommodated in government-designated collective shelters.
Many more spent the night in cars, beside roads or caught in traffic while fleeing the south.
UNHCR is concerned about escalation along the Lebanon–Israel border and calls for civilian protection.
It is monitoring developments and working with authorities and partners to respond.
Teams are providing essential items to displaced families arriving at designated shelters throughout Lebanon.
Syria and Iraq
Crossings from Lebanon into Syria have increased following the evacuation orders.
Syrian authorities said around 11,000 people crossed from Lebanon on Monday, above the daily average.
UNHCR staff are at the Syrian border. The agency already has a plan for a potential influx from Lebanon, including preparation of supplies inside Syria.
In Iraq, UNHCR continues monitoring developments with border authorities, with no changes observed at the time of the update.
The agency says it is ready to help Iranian nationals and Afghan refugees and support any required response.
