Iran’s neighbours brace for fallout as war threatens new refugee crisis
Al Jazeera
As war engulfs Iran, neighbouring states quietly prepare for a potential refugee exodus across already fragile borders.
Islamabad, Pakistan — The war launched by the United States and Israel on Iran has already killed more than 1,400 people, set off retaliatory attacks by Tehran targeting Gulf nations and Israel, and pushed global oil prices above $100 a barrel.
Now, eighteen days into the conflict, aid agencies and countries neighbouring Iran are increasingly concerned about a potential refugee crisis.
The United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, estimates that 3.2 million people have already been displaced in Iran since US-Israeli strikes began on February 28. For now, the number of people physically crossing Iran’s borders remains comparatively modest. But this is what could happen next, and has put Iran’s neighbours on high alert.
Iran borders seven countries: Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Pakistan, Turkiye and Turkmenistan. Iraq shares the longest frontier, stretching for almost 1,600km (994 miles).
Each of these states faces its own political pressures, economic limitations and security concerns.
From energy exports to tourism, the economies of Gulf nations are at risk from a prolonged conflict in the Middle East.
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As war engulfs Iran, neighbouring states quietly prepare for a potential refugee exodus across already fragile borders.
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