UN Geneva 110d ago

UN World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson Christian Lindmeier warned that the “black rain” and “acidic rain” that’s been falling in Tehran after Israeli and U.S. strikes on oil depots “is indeed a danger” for Iranians. “We are in touch with the hospitals and with the authorities, and the Iranian authorities have issued an alert advising people to stay indoors, in light of the attacks on oil warehouses especially,” he said. The UN agency is also monitoring the health risks of the “massive release” of toxic hydrocarbons, sulphur oxides and nitrogen compounds into the air. Mr. Lindmeier said that additional reported Iranian strikes on oil infrastructures in Bahrain and in Saudi Arabia also raised concerns of “wider regional pollution exposure”, highlighting the long-term effects of pollutants, which affect respiratory health and contaminate water. Speaking to reporters in Geneva, UN Human Rights office spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani also raised concerns about the health and environmental impacts of the attacks in Tehran as toxic pollutants spread in the air. She said that these impacts raise “serious questions as to whether the proportionality and precaution obligations under international humanitarian law were met” in the attacks, stressing that the sites hit “do not appear to be of military exclusive usage.”