3.2 Million Iranians Displaced as Strikes Hit 20+ Provinces; Sanctions and Bombardment Block Aid Delivery

NPR reports that 3.2 million Iranians have been temporarily displaced since US-Israeli strikes began February 28, with most fleeing Tehran and major urban areas toward northern Iran and rural regions. Casualties and infrastructure damage span at least 20 provinces, concentrated in Tehran, Isfahan, Kermanshah, East Azerbaijan, and Alborz. UNHCR flagged 1.2 million registered Afghan refugees in Iran as especially vulnerable. International sanctions combined with disrupted air traffic and shipping corridors are severely impeding humanitarian access. UNHCR requires $454.2 million for 2026 regional operations but has received only 15% of funding. Over 26,000 undocumented Afghans have crossed into Afghanistan via border checkpoints since the conflict began.