World Health Organization (WHO) officials have admitted they are preparing for the "worst-case scenario" - a nuclear threat, in case the US-Israeli war against Iran escalates, writes Politico.
Hana Balkhi, WHO regional director for the Eastern Mediterranean, said staff remain "on alert" for a possible nuclear incident following President Donald Trump's decision to bomb Iran in a joint operation with Israel.
"The worst-case scenario is a nuclear incident, and that's what worries us the most," Balkhi told Politico. "No matter how much we prepare, there is nothing that can prevent the damage that will occur... in the region - and globally, if that ultimately happens - and the consequences will last for decades."
The official told the media that UN staff are preparing for an incident in the "broader sense", including in the event of an attack on a nuclear facility or the use of weapons. "We are thinking about it and we just really hope that it doesn't happen," Balkhi added.
In the wake of the bombings in the Middle East, the WHO is "refreshing" its personnel's knowledge of how to respond in the event of a nuclear incident and provides guidance on the long-term health risks associated with radiation exposure, Politico reported.
"I think those familiar with the history of previous incidents - intentional or accidental - understand very well what this is about," Balkhy added.
Israel and the United States have continued to strike Iranian nuclear sites as Trump claims Tehran is on the verge of acquiring a nuclear weapon.
At the start of "Operation Epic Fury", which began on February 28, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Kaine insisted that the goal of the operation was to deny Iran the ability to create a nuclear weapon, echoing the same position shared by Trump and the White House when the attacks began.