Iran: UNHCR Middle East Situation: Emergency Flash Update #14 as of 21 April 2026

Countries: Iran (Islamic Republic of), Afghanistan, Armenia, Lebanon, Pakistan, Syrian Arab Republic, Türkiye, Turkmenistan Source: UN High Commissioner for Refugees Please refer to the attached file. Key Highlights • Since the onset of the military escalation, the Islamic Republic of Iran has reported that around 3. 2 million people (800, 000 households) have internally relocated, based on an updated assessment. 75 per cent of the relocated population is in Tehran, followed by Hormozgan (8 per cent), Bushehr (5 per cent), and Khuzestan (3 per cent). In some locations, nearly 17 per cent of the population lacks access to clean water due to overcrowding. • Iran continues to host 1. 65 million refugees and others in need of international protection. Based on UNHCR helpline data, the top three priority needs reported by Afghan refugees in Iran are financial assistance for basic needs and relocation, safe shelter and physical safety from attacks, and access to healthcare. • Since 28 February 2026, approximately 127, 000 Iranian nationals have crossed into Türkiye via the Kapıköy, Gürbulak, and Esendere border crossings, while around 108, 600 Iranians have crossed from Türkiye to Iran. Some 6, 600 Iranian nationals crossed into Pakistan between 1 March and 9 April, per IOM and UNHCR joint border monitoring via Taftan. Movement volumes have largely remained below daily pre-conflict levels, with crossings primarily reflecting routine mobility, family travel, and precautionary movement rather than large-scale displacement. 52 per cent of Iranians crossing into Türkiye are families. • In Lebanon, more than 1. 05 million people remain internally displaced — 35 per cent of them children — with over 111, 600 staying in 690 government-designated collective shelters. • Since the start of the crisis, 251, 000 Syrian returnees* and 47, 800 Lebanese refugees have crossed from Lebanon into Syria; 71, 057 Syrians reported an intention to return permanently. • Over 190, 900 Afghans have returned* from Iran and Pakistan since the start of the crisis (80, 300 from Iran, 110, 600 from Pakistan). 76 per cent of UNHCR-assisted returnees were women and children. Top provinces of intended return are Kabul (12 per cent) and Nangarhar (11 per cent). Top three reported needs are financial support (85 per cent), housing (67 per cent) and core relief items (65 per cent) • UNHCR considers that Iranian nationals and Lebanese nationals outside their countries of origin – whether already present in or newly arriving to third countries – may have international protection needs on account of the armed hostilities in Iran and Lebanon, or other reasons. The armed hostilities in Iran, together with return pressures, may compel Afghans in Iran to return to Afghanistan or move onward; UNHCR maintains that a substantial number of Afghans will have international protection needs regardless of documentation status, in line with UNHCR’s September 2025 Guidance Note. Similarly, the armed hostilities in Lebanon have already compelled significant numbers of Syrians to return to Syria in adverse circumstances; among them there may also be Syrians with continued international protection needs. *Returnees Includes people returning under adverse circumstances due to the situation in countries of asylum. For Syrians, return dynamics vary and some returns may be temporary (including households where some family members remain in Lebanon). Afghan returns is an umbrella term that includes all returns including deportations, assisted repatriation, and other returns of Afghans of all statuses such as PoR, ACC, Amayesh cardholders, headcounted slip holders and undocumented, excluding passport holders.

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