Amid record-breaking global temperatures and warnings that the world is on the brink of a “global boiling”, a clarion call has been sounded on the profound impact of heatwaves in the Middle East, a region already beleaguered by socio-political violence and instability.

Imene Trabelsi, the regional spokesperson for International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in the Near and Middle East, told Al Arabiya English that as the relentless grip of summer tightens and the world witnesses some of the most severe heatwaves ever recorded, the phenomenon is significantly felt in countries plagued by ongoing conflicts.

“Globally, out of the 25 states deemed most vulnerable to climate change, 14 are mired in conflict,” she said. “Climate change consequences, namely heatwaves, amplify the humanitarian needs triggered by conflicts. At the same time, conflict damages or destroys infrastructure and compromises access to essential services.”

This July was declared the hottest month ever recorded on Earth, with average global temperatures reaching unprecedented heights.

This escalation of heat is particularly impacting countries such as Iran, a nation teetering on the precipice of climate vulnerability. With a population exceeding 85 million, Iran grapples with the dual challenges of climate change and surging global temperatures. The government, struggling to protect its citizens from the searing heat, declared a two-day holiday for government workers and banks, as temperatures soared beyond 40 degrees Celsius in many cities and nearly 50°C in some regions.

Egypt, another nation in the crosshairs of intensifying heatwaves, declared scheduled power cuts in response to the mounting strain on its electricity grid and natural gas supplies.

Trabelsi points to ICRC’s observations of unprecedented temperatures in cities like Aden in Yemen and Basra in Iraq, as well as the eruption of forest fires in Syria. These extreme weather conditions exacerbate the vulnerability of already distressed communities, who are grappling with both, the ravages of conflict and the merciless heat.

Extreme weather conditions are even more difficult to cope with for the most vulnerable communities, due to the ongoing or past conflicts, she said, she said, adding that an increase in temperatures “results in even more unfulfilled basic needs for millions.”