UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk has expressed concern about the growing risk of further military escalation spreading throughout the Middle East.

“The military escalation in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf is reaching dangerous proportions,” he said during the 61st session of the UN Human Rights Council. “There is a high and rising risk of the conflict spreading further and increasing the suffering of civilians in the countries directly involved.”

According to Türk, beyond the region, “there are fears of serious economic consequences — from worsening poverty and hunger to shortages of medicine and fuel.” In this regard, the UN representative emphasized that “it is extremely important for all parties to halt the escalation.”