Safe Zones No More? Hospitals and Schools Hit as Iran Conflict Puts Children at Risk
TEHRAN — Iranian authorities and humanitarian organisations raised fresh alarm on Monday over the impact of ongoing air strikes on children after damage was reported at hospitals, emergency centres and schools across several provinces.
Officials said several medical facilities in Tehran were affected by strikes in nearby areas, forcing evacuations and disrupting services. Footage aired by Iranian state media showed damage at Gandhi Hospital, while other hospitals and emergency response buildings were also reported hit in the capital.
Authorities said Aboozar Children’s Hospital in Ahvaz, as well as emergency centres in East Azerbaijan, Sistan-Baluchistan and Hamedan, sustained damage.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society called for international action, urging the International Committee of the Red Cross to explicitly condemn attacks impacting children and protected civilian infrastructure. The ICRC reiterated that rules of war require civilian sites, including hospitals and schools, to be spared.
In Tehran’s Narmak district, authorities said a high school was damaged during an air strike, with at least two children reported killed. In Minab, Iranian officials said a girls’ school was hit, leaving more than 160 dead and dozens wounded, most of them children.
The figures have not been independently verified. The United States said it was aware of the reports and was investigating, while Israel said it was not aware of operations in that area.
Child protection advocates warned the damage goes beyond casualties. Disrupted hospitals delay emergency care, vaccination services and treatment for chronic conditions, while evacuations can separate children from caregivers.
Damage to schools forces closures, pushes learning online or stops it entirely, and increases risks linked to conflict, including displacement, trauma, exploitation and recruitment. Psychosocial stress linked to repeated blasts and instability can also leave lasting harm.
Humanitarian groups called for independent investigations and stronger safeguards to prevent further violations affecting children and civilian facilities.
