"UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric conveyed the Secretary-General's call for a halt to fighting during a press briefing in New York City on Friday, stressing that "the stakes could not be higher." "All the unlawful attacks in the Middle East and beyond are causing tremendous suffering and harm to civilians throughout the region," he stated. "These attacks pose a grave risk to the global economy, particularly the most vulnerable people. The situation could spiral beyond anyone's control. It is time to stop the fighting and get to serious diplomatic negotiations," Dujarric persisted. The spokesperson elaborated that the crisis is threatening the unity of member states and impacting vital trade routes. "We're already seeing a spike in oil prices and the impact that that will have given our continued addiction to fossil fuels. Sadly, the situation could get much worse." Answering a journalist's question, Dujarric said, "It doesn't take much imagination to see how this situation could get even worse," citing risks to the unity of member states, the continuing suffering of civilians and the deteriorating situation around the Strait of Hormuz. In Lebanon, UN peacekeepers observed Israeli ground incursions as more than 100,000 people sheltered in collective centres. Ongoing airstrikes reportedly killed and injured dozens, forcing South Beirut hospitals to suspend operations on March 5. Over 30,000 people fled to Syria in the past week. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, more than 100,000 people fled Tehran in the first two days of the crisis, with Iran now hosting 1.65 million displaced people, mostly from Afghanistan. Asked whether the UN could investigate recent attacks, Dujarric noted that the organisation currently does not have access, although "it does not mean there shouldn't be any sort of investigation right now." Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Tom Fletcher warned of escalating costs. "We're seeing staggering amounts of money, reportedly a billion dollars a day, funding this war, spent on destruction, while politicians continue to boast about cutting aid budgets." "We're seeing an increasingly deadly alliance of technology and killing with impunity," he remarked, adding that "too many warning lights are flashing on the dashboard right now." The remarks come after Israel and the United States launched joint airstrikes across Iran on February 28, with Iranian state television confirming that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes. Iranian officials declared his killing would mark a turning point, while the Revolutionary Guard vowed retaliation, declaring that "this great crime will not go unpunished." Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps later announced "widespread missile and drone attacks" targeting Israel and US assets in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Iraq and Kuwait."