Even as thousands of Iranians attempt to flee the capital Tehran in the wake of Israel's bombardment, many of those working in essential services have been forced to remain.
Healthcare workers, working in a sector already battered by years of US sanctions, face a particular struggle to cope with the hundreds being killed and wounded on a daily basis.
Golnaz, a 34-year-old woman living in Tehran with her husband Keyvan, dreads the sound of explosions getting closer and closer.
"There’s barely an hour without an explosion nearby. Every time, I look at my husband and ask, 'do you think we’ll survive this?'" she told Middle East Eye.
Golnaz and Keyvan have no choice but to stay - Keyvan, 39, is a nurse and has to show up for work every day.