As protests continued across Iran, medical professionals in Tehran reported that hospitals were overwhelmed with patients suffering injuries, according to sources who spoke with the BBC. A doctor at a Tehran eye hospital described the facility as being in "crisis mode," while a medic at another hospital reported a severe shortage of surgeons to handle the influx of patients.
The anti-government protests, which continued on Friday in dozens of locations, have resulted in a significant strain on medical resources. Two human rights groups have reported that at least 50 protesters have been killed. The specific types of injuries overwhelming the hospitals were not detailed, but the sheer volume of cases is reportedly exceeding capacity.
The protests have been ongoing amid rising tensions between Iran and the United States. On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran against violence, stating, "you better not start shooting because we'll start shooting too." In response, Iran sent a letter to the UN Security Council blaming the U.S. for escalating the protests into "violent subversive acts and widespread vandalism."
The BBC and most other international news organizations are barred from directly reporting from within Iran, making independent verification of the situation challenging. The information reported is based on accounts from medical professionals and human rights organizations.
The situation remains fluid, and the impact on the Iranian healthcare system is ongoing. The long-term consequences for both patients and medical staff remain to be seen as the protests continue.
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