The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees said an estimated 3.2 million people have been displaced in Iran and 1 million in Lebanon, highlighting the scale of the crisis as needs continue to rise.

UNHCR said it requires an additional $61 million in Lebanon alone to support around 600,000 displaced people over the next three months. The agency, which cut 30% of its workforce last year due to funding shortages, warned that declining global humanitarian financing is undermining its ability to respond effectively.

“The drop in global humanitarian funding is having a major impact at the very moment as needs are rising sharply,” the agency said, adding that reduced staffing and resources are limiting operations as displacement accelerates.

The World Food Programme warned that nearly 45 million more people worldwide could face acute hunger if the conflict continues into mid-year and oil prices remain above $100 per barrel.

Carl Skau, the agency’s chief operating officer, said the war’s economic ripple effects would disproportionately hit vulnerable populations already struggling to meet basic food needs. “Without an adequately funded humanitarian response, it could spell catastrophe for millions already on the edge,” he said.

Aid groups also pointed to the financial cost of the conflict, noting that the United States spent $11.3 billion in the first week alone, as a contrast to the funding shortfalls facing humanitarian operations.

They warned that without immediate donor support, the combination of displacement, rising food insecurity and economic disruption could deepen the global humanitarian crisis in the months ahead.

Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s support for Saudi Arabia’s security and sovereignty in the face of what he described as repeated Iranian attacks, according to the Saudi Press Agency.

The two leaders reviewed recent regional developments and the broader implications of the conflict for global stability.

The call came as Sharif indicated Pakistan could host talks aimed at ending the conflict, positioning Islamabad as a potential intermediary amid intensifying hostilities. In a statement on X, he said Pakistan supported efforts to pursue dialogue and a peaceful resolution.

The outreach follows remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump that Washington had engaged in “productive” discussions with Iran, a claim denied by Iranian military officials.Despite diplomatic signals, fighting has continued, with U.S., Israeli and Iranian strikes ongoing across the region.

Sources have indicated that Washington is preparing to deploy additional forces, including thousands of troops from the 82nd Airborne Division, adding to an existing U.S. presence of about 50,000 personnel in the Middle East.

The planned deployment underscores a broader military buildup that has raised concerns about a prolonged conflict even as parallel diplomatic efforts gain traction.

Pakistan’s potential role as a host for negotiations reflects its longstanding ties with Iran and its recent engagement with the United States, allowing it to project itself as a relatively neutral actor in the crisis.

The discussions between Riyadh and Islamabad come amid growing international efforts to contain the conflict’s geopolitical and economic fallout.

Speaking at UN headquarters, Guterres said the conflict had exceeded even worst-case expectations, warning of a potential global catastrophe if fighting continues.

He reiterated that diplomacy and adherence to international law remain the only viable path to de-escalation.

Guterres urged Tehran to stop strikes against regional states, noting that the United Nations Security Council has already condemned such actions and demanded their cessation. He also stressed the importance of safeguarding navigation rights in critical waterways, including the Strait of Hormuz.

He called on Washington and Israel to bring the war to an end, citing rising civilian casualties and intensifying humanitarian and economic consequences. “This has gone too far,” he said, warning against further escalation.

The UN chief said the prolonged disruption of maritime routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, is constraining the flow of oil, gas and fertilizers at a crucial time for global agriculture, amplifying economic shocks and threatening food security.

He warned that the conflict’s repercussions are disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, with humanitarian operations under increasing strain as violence spreads across multiple fronts.

Referring to his recent visit to Lebanon, Guterres cautioned against further deterioration there, calling on Hezbollah to halt attacks into Israel and urging Israel to stop strikes in Lebanese territory.

He warned that the humanitarian crisis seen in Gaza must not be repeated in Lebanon.Guterres said he remains engaged with regional and international stakeholders and announced the appointment of Jean Arnault as his personal envoy to coordinate diplomatic efforts related to the conflict and its broader consequences.

He emphasized that ending the war remains the most effective way to mitigate global disruption, reiterating that “peace is the way out.”

Qassem said proposals to negotiate “under fire” were unacceptable, describing them as an imposed capitulation rather than a pathway to de-escalation. He criticized the Lebanese president’s push for direct engagement with Israel, which he said remains an adversary occupying Lebanese land and conducting ongoing attacks.

The Hezbollah chief framed the timing of the proposed talks as coercive, arguing that dialogue cannot take place under active military pressure. His remarks underscore deep divisions within Lebanon’s political leadership over how to respond to the escalating conflict and external threats.

Qassem also called on the Lebanese government to reverse its March 2 decision banning Hezbollah’s military activities, presenting the move as necessary for safeguarding national interests during a period of heightened regional instability.

Appealing to the public, Qassem urged Lebanese citizens to rally around “national unity,” linking internal cohesion to the country’s ability to withstand external pressures.

He said unity would require political alignment on the role of Hezbollah’s armed wing in Lebanon’s defense posture.

His comments come as displacement rises across the country, with makeshift encampments expanding in Beirut and other areas amid continued cross-border hostilities and airstrikes.