Multiple UN agencies warn that Middle East conflict could trigger "black rain" and other consequences

Representatives from multiple UN agencies stated at a press conference on the 10th that recent hostilities in the Middle East have caused various consequences, including toxic “black rain” caused by attacks on oil depots, large-scale displacement of people, and disruptions to supply chains.

At the press conference held in Geneva, Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that attacks by Israel and the United States on oil depots in Tehran, Iran, have led to the spread of toxic pollutants, expressing concern about the health and environmental consequences.

Christian Lindmeier, a WHO spokesperson, warned that the “black rain” and “acid rain” falling after the attack on Tehran pose real dangers to Iranians. The WHO is monitoring the health risks associated with the release of large amounts of toxic hydrocarbons, sulfur oxides, and nitrogen compounds into the air. Lindmeier also mentioned reports that oil facilities in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have been attacked, raising concerns about wider regional pollution exposure.

Caroline Lindholm Biling, the UNHCR representative in Lebanon, said that the speed of displacement of Lebanese people is faster than during the 2024 Israel-Lebanon conflict. She explained that in Lebanon, recent Israeli attacks and other factors have caused a large number of people to flee within the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of displaced persons due to this conflict to approximately 700,000.

Jean-Martin Bauer, head of food and nutrition analysis at the World Food Programme, said that the conflict has affected two critical nodes in the global supply chain—the Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Mandeb—causing shipping companies to reroute and increasing logistics and transportation costs.

(Source: CCTV News)