As military intervention in Iran enters its second week, force has replaced dialogue, and hostilities are plunging millions of civilians into horror.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called on “heads of state and government around the world to commit unequivocally to defending international human rights law, international humanitarian law and the UN Charter itself.”

Many humanitarian organizations have denounced violations of international law, attacks on civilian infrastructure, and the targeting of innocent victims. 

Amnesty International deplores a new deliberate internet blackout across Iran, “once again depriving the population of all means of communication and the rest of the world of access to crucial information about the situation on the ground.” 

The deliberate deprivation of internet access is synonymous with the deprivation of human rights; similarly, information and communication technologies should never be used to harm people or their rights. 

TSF previously responded to crises in Syria (2012-2024) and in Lebanon (2020-2021). Building on relationships with partners in the region, TSF is now assessing communication needs and opportunities to assist affected populations. 

Telecom Without Borders joins international organizations in condemning the escalation of violence and calls for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, as well as guaranteed access to affected areas so that aid can be delivered to all those affected.