UN refugee agency says Iran conflict must not become refugee crisis

GENEVA, Switzerland — The United Nations says the Iran-Israel war must not be allowed to trigger another refugee crisis in the Middle East, saying that once people fled, there was no quick way back.

UNHCR, the UN’s refugee agency, says the intensity of the attacks between the two sides was already triggering population movements in both countries.

Such movements had already been reported from Tehran and other parts of Iran, it says, with some people crossing into neighboring countries.

Strikes in Israel had caused people to seek shelter elsewhere in the country and 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,” says 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.”