UN warns of 'law of the jungle': Dire situation in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, condemned the escalation of violence in the Middle East, describing the current situation as a destructive dynamic based on an eye-for-an-eye principle. In his address, the official highlighted the tragic consequences of mutual retaliation, which are plunging the region into deeper humanitarian chaos. Meanwhile, Philippe Lazzarini, the head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), warned of the total collapse of a rules-based order. According to his account, the lack of respect for international law inevitably leads to the dominance of force over justice. The United Nations has also declared its readiness to undertake operational actions in Iran. However, a necessary condition for launching a mission there is providing full security guarantees for international personnel. UNRWA „Hay que mantenerse firmes, porque si no hay derecho internacional se impone la ley de la selva” (We must stand firm, because if there is no international law, the law of the jungle prevails) — Philippe Lazzarini via eldiario.es

The humanitarian situation in Lebanon is deteriorating rapidly, and the number of people forced to flee their homes due to hostilities has already reached nearly 760,000 displaced persons. The dramatic data confirms the scale of the exodus of civilians seeking shelter from ongoing attacks in various parts of the country. Lebanese writer Dominique Eddé described the present moment as a time of ubiquitous destruction that overwhelms the individual with its scale and brutality. In her view, in the face of such great tragedy, the only form of resistance is to maintain clarity of mind and moral integrity. The author points out that in an era of destroying social structures and physical infrastructure, it is crucial to think and stand upright despite the surrounding collapse. The conflict in the Middle East has for decades generated massive waves of refugees, affecting the demographic stability of Lebanon, Jordan, and Syria. Lebanon, a country with a complex religious structure, has repeatedly in its history grappled with internal displacements during wars with Israel and internal conflicts. The current scale of civilian flight is one of the largest in recent years, pushing the local social infrastructure to the brink of endurance.

In parallel, Amnesty International has formulated serious accusations against Israel, alleging the deliberate deprivation of women in the Gaza Strip of conditions necessary for survival. The organization emphasizes that the collapse of the local healthcare system exposes this social group to particular danger, preventing access to basic medical services. The lack of sterile conditions, medicines, and professional perinatal care leads to tragic consequences for the health of mothers and newborns. According to the Amnesty International report, hostilities are systematically destroying the foundations of civilian existence, hitting the most vulnerable people the hardest. This situation is described as a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented intensity, where the lack of access to water and hygiene becomes a tool for degrading human dignity. 760 tys. (osób) — number of internally displaced persons in Lebanon „Alto-Comissário da ONU para Direitos Humanos condena dinâmica de olho por olho” (UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemns eye-for-an-eye dynamic) — Volker Türk via TSF Rádio Notícias