We want change but not like this': Iranians describe daily life under air attack

"Up to 3.2 million people have been temporarily displaced in Iran since the start of the US-Israeli military campaign, the UN's refugee agency estimates, a figure that is likely to rise as the war stretches into a third week. While many Iranians have fled Tehran and other major cities to seek shelter in rural areas or the mountains to the north, millions remain in their homes in the capital despite regular airstrikes."

"Zeinab says her online business has slowed, at first because of January's internet shutdown during anti-government protests and now again because of the war. Together with her husband, Alireza, 33, she has renovated their apartment, stripping old wallpaper and repainting the walls. Picture frames of family and friends from holidays and trips now hang throughout, alongside Persian rugs."

"Last summer, Zeinab and Alireza left Tehran briefly when Israel bombed Iranian military and nuclear sites. They would probably leave again, Zeinab says, were it not for Sam and Yal, their cats. The trip was hard for them. They were terrified, Zeinab explains, sitting on the sofa with Sam purring on her lap."

"Instead, the couple now spends most evenings with friends, moving between apartments across the city. Every night at eight, we gather at someone's house. Everyone brings food or dessert to share. It helps keep the spirits up."

The UN refugee agency estimates that 3.2 million people have been temporarily displaced in Iran since the beginning of the US-Israeli military campaign, a figure expected to increase as the conflict continues into its third week. While many Iranians have fled Tehran and other major cities to seek shelter in rural areas and northern mountains, millions remain in their homes despite ongoing airstrikes. Residents like Zeinab, a 30-year-old jewelry designer, have adapted to the conflict by renovating their homes and gathering with friends for evening meals to maintain morale. Economic activities have slowed due to internet shutdowns and the war. Some residents, like Zeinab and her husband, have chosen to stay in Tehran rather than evacuate, prioritizing their pets and community connections over seeking refuge elsewhere.

Read at www.theguardian.com