Arabic version: تحذير منظمة الصحة العالمية من المخاطر الصحية بعد الضربات الإسرائيلية على إيران

According to Al Jazeera,

The head of the World Health Organization has warned that recent Israeli attacks on oil facilities in Iran could have negative effects on public health, with Iranian children and the elderly among the most vulnerable. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said in a statement on Monday that damage to Iranian petroleum facilities “risks contaminating food, water and air”.

Tedros warned that the hazards arising from the attacks could have severe health impacts especially on children, older people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions. Reports indicate that rain laden with oil has been reported falling in parts of the country following the strikes, further exacerbating potential health risks.

The Iranian authorities said oil facilities in the capital, Tehran, and the nearby province of Alborz were targeted on March 8, 2026, as part of a broader conflict involving the United States and Israel. Israel confirmed it struck “a number of fuel storage facilities in Tehran” that were used “to operate military infrastructure”.

The strikes sent massive flames and clouds of thick, black smoke into the sky above Tehran. Human rights organizations have condemned the actions of both Iran and the US-Israel coalition for their impact on civilian infrastructure. Amnesty International’s Agnes Callamard criticized Israel for failing to take necessary precautions to protect civilians during these operations.