UNHCR urges de-escalation as displacement reported in Iran, Israel

GENEVA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) on Saturday urged de-escalation of the ongoing hostilities between Israel and Iran, saying that displacement has already been observed in both countries due to the intensifying conflict.

In a statement, UNHCR said movements have been reported from Tehran and other parts of Iran, with some individuals crossing into neighboring countries. Meanwhile, shelling in Israel has forced people to seek shelter in other parts of the country or, in some cases, abroad.

"This region has already endured more than its share of war, loss, and displacement - we cannot allow another refugee crisis to take root," said Filippo Grandi, the UN high commissioner for refugees. "The time to de-escalate is right now. Once people are forced to flee, there's no quick way back - and all too often, the consequences last for generations," he added.

According to the agency's Global Trends 2024 Report released last week, Iran hosts some 3.5 million refugees, mainly from Afghanistan - making it the largest refugee-hosting country in the world. Prolonged conflict, the agency warned, would compound existing vulnerabilities among refugee populations. ■