Some 3.2 million Iranians have been displaced within Iran since the start of the war between the country and Israel and the United States, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced on Thursday.

"According to preliminary estimates, between 600,000 and 1 million Iranian households are currently temporarily displaced within the country due to the ongoing conflict, representing up to 3.2 million people," Ayaki Ito, Director of the UNHCR Emergency and Programme Support Division, announced in a statement.

"Most of them are fleeing Tehran and other major urban centers to seek refuge in the north of the country and rural areas," he added, estimating that "this number is expected to continue to rise as long as hostilities continue."

The United States and Israel jointly launched a major offensive against Iran on February 28. This offensive triggered a war across the Middle East.

As the strikes continued on Thursday in Iran and the region on the 13th day of the conflict, the UNHCR also sought to draw attention to the plight of refugees in Iran.

"Refugee families hosted in the country, mostly Afghan, are also affected. Their precarious situation and limited support networks make them particularly vulnerable," warned Mr. Ito.

"Faced with increasing insecurity and restricted access to essential services, these families are leaving the disaster areas," he added, specifying that UNHCR "is collaborating with national authorities and its partners to assess new needs and strengthen its preparedness in the face of increased population movements."

In its statement, the UNHCR further warned of "the urgent need to protect civilians, maintain humanitarian access and ensure open borders for people seeking safety, in accordance with international obligations".