New Delhi, March 14 — The United Nations Human Rights Office on Saturday warned that the Iran–Israel conflict is rapidly escalating with grave humanitarian, economic and global consequences, and urged an immediate ceasefire and stronger diplomatic action from influential states, including India, to help de‑escalate the crisis.
UN Human Rights spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani told IANS the organisation had signalled the risk of wider hostilities months before fighting began. “We have been warning about this for several months. In fact, just the week before the war began, our monitoring showed there was a heightened risk of conflict and hostilities,” she said.
According to the UN office, the violence has expanded beyond the initial strikes and now involves multiple actors across the region. Shamdasani said the escalation followed attacks involving Israel, Iran and the United States and then spread through retaliatory actions that have drawn in neighbouring countries. “This is an unfolding catastrophe before our very eyes, and it was entirely avoidable,” she said.
The UN said it is closely monitoring developments in Iran, Lebanon and Israel, while tracking wider effects such as rising fuel prices, disruptions to humanitarian aid and mounting economic pressure on migrant workers in Gulf states. These secondary impacts, the office warned, are already being felt beyond the immediate combat zones.
Shamdasani urged nations with global influence to press for an end to the fighting. “India, along with other influential countries, can recommit to the UN Charter and insist on bringing this conflict to an end,” she said, adding that world leaders must promote dialogue, negotiations and respect for international law to prevent a wider regional war.
The UN voiced particular alarm over reports that a strike hit a girls’ school in Minab, killing a large number of students. “This is absolutely horrific,” Shamdasani said. The Human Rights Office cited reports that around 160 girls were killed during school hours and called for a prompt, transparent investigation and full accountability, saying victims’ families deserve clarity about what happened.
Stressing legal obligations in armed conflict, Shamdasani noted that international humanitarian law requires protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure. “Even wars have laws. Parties to a conflict must do their utmost to ensure the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure,” she said, warning that deliberate attacks on schools, hospitals, desalination plants and other civilian facilities could amount to war crimes.
The UN’s message to the governments involved is clear: there needs to be a ceasefire. Continued attacks and counterattacks are harming civilians and cannot secure long‑term safety, the Human Rights Office said, adding that sustained diplomatic pressure is essential to stop further civilian casualties.
Original Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/india-can-play-important-role-un-urges-ceasefire-as-iranisrael-war-escalates
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Publish Date: 2026-03-14 13:29:00
