THE OTHER COST OF THE WAR - AFFECTS 21 COUNTRIES, 14 DIRECTLY - WHO RECORDS CASUALTIES, REFUGEES AND DAMAGE - Filenews 21/3 by Marilena Panayi
A war that is not visible everywhere but is already present almost everywhere. A total of 21 countries are directly affected, with 14 located in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Every time the sirens sound and there is an update on attacks and strikes in various areas, people die or are injured, hospitals become dangerous, medicines and food are destroyed, people flee their homes. If one only considers the fact that even in Cyprus, which is by no means part of the war, residents had been forced to move away from their homes in the previous weeks, then the "other" cost of this war can be clearly seen.
In numbers, in modern times war is clearly not measured only on the fronts. This war, at the moment, is being measured in 21 countries, in millions of displaced people, in thousands of dead and wounded, in hospitals that are collapsing and health systems that are being tested to their limits.
From the 3.2 million displaced in Iran and over 1 million in Lebanon, to the dozens of attacks on health facilities and the collapse of access to basic care, the conflict, which no one knows when it will end, extends far beyond the war lines and the borders of the states involved.
The cost, in addition to missiles and drones, in addition to grandiose statements, announcements and war briefings, also includes the economic consequences, as international organizations warn that the sharp increase in energy prices will have consequences for the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide. The International Monetary Fund has warned that any 10% increase in the price of oil could add up to 0.4 percentage points to global inflation, while the International Energy Agency and the World Trade Organization are already recording severe impacts on energy, supply chain and global trade.
The numbers through the official WHO report (Based on the last official record until March 18, 2026)
> Iran has recorded 1,444 deaths and 19,324 injuries, while the number of internally displaced people reaches up to 3,2 million.
> In Lebanon, the dead stand at 912 and the injured at 2.221, with more than 1 million people having fled their homes.
> In Lebanon, at least five hospitals have been shut down and six have been severely damaged, while 44 primary care centers are not operating.
> In Lebanon, 18,236 medical visits have taken place inside shelters and 9,914 people have received medication, reflecting the pressure on the system.
> In Iran, more than 18,900 patients have already been treated and discharged, while more than 1,100 remain hospitalized and more than 700 surgeries have been performed.
Regarding mass population movement, the WHO records:
> In Lebanon, as of March 17, 2026, more than 1 million people had been displaced, of which 133,414 resided in 631 collective shelters across the country.
> In Iran, internal movement reaches up to 3.2 million people. The WHO, in a later update on March 17, also said that about 100.000 people have fled Tehran and that between 600.000 and 1 million Iranian households have been temporarily moved within the country.
> At the same time, more than 120,400 people have crossed from Lebanon to Syria, intensifying the pressure on already overburdened infrastructure.
As the WHO points out, the concentration of large populations in shelters and temporary structures creates conditions of increased risk for the spread of diseases. Demand for primary care, mental health services, and essential health services is increasing, while infrastructure is struggling to respond.
Those that are not taken into account but are important
> Traffic restrictions, insecurity and infrastructure destruction affect the movement of ambulances, delay patient referrals and make it difficult to distribute medical supplies.
> In some areas, health facilities have been evacuated or shut down, while a lack of fuel and equipment is limiting the operation of critical services.
> In Gaza, the limited entry of supplies and fuel forces health agencies to prioritize only the most critical services, such as emergency and trauma care, maternal and neonatal health services, and the treatment of communicable diseases.
Losses to health professionals and care structures
> In Lebanon, 33 attacks on health structures have been recorded, with 31 deaths and 46 injuries. On March 13, 14 doctors, rescuers and nurses were killed in two confirmed attacks.
> In Iran, 20 attacks on health facilities have been recorded, with 9 deaths.
> In the occupied Palestinian territories, there had been 31 attacks on health structures since the beginning of the year, with 3 deaths and 21 injuries as of March 17. In Sudan, 11 attacks were recorded, with 114 deaths and 148 injuries.
> In Iraq, 37 deaths and 215 injuries have been reported, while hospitals are facing increasing pressure and supply shortages.
> In Syria, the arrival of tens of thousands of people from Lebanon increases the demand for health services and the risk of epidemics, including clusters of infectious diseases such as hepatitis A.
> In Yemen, 23.1 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, and only about 60% of health facilities are fully operational.
> In Kuwait, two rescuers were injured when debris fell into an ambulance center, according to the Ministry of Health.
Expansion everywhere through economic and energy crisis
> Destroying oil depots and refineries releases toxic pollutants, increasing the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
> Damage to desalination plants threatens access to clean water for millions of people, intensifying public health concerns across the region.
> Disruptions in airspace and maritime transport affect the movement of supplies, while shipments of medical equipment are delayed or do not arrive on time at their destinations.
Economic Implications
The escalation of the conflict in the Middle East has spread everywhere, with other international organizations, according to international news agencies, recording strong effects on energy, trade and the cost of living.
> The International Monetary Fund has warned that rising energy prices and volatility in markets can boost inflation, with each 10% increase in oil adding up to 0.4 percentage points.
> Oil prices have exceeded $110 a barrel as critical energy facilities are hit and traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is disrupted.
> The International Energy Agency has already released more than 400 million barrels from strategic reserves to reduce pressure on markets.
> The World Trade Organization predicts a slowdown in global trade from 4.6% in 2025 to 1.9% in 2026, warning that the protracted energy crisis could further worsen the picture.
The increase in energy costs is directly transferred to transport, production and the food chain, thus extending the Middle East crisis to households internationally, since just a few weeks after the outbreak of the war, the world's population is faced with more expensive fuel and increased costs of basic goods.
