Red Cross sends first major aid shipment to Iran since escalation

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has dispatched 171 metric tons of essential relief items to the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), with five truckloads delivered on April 13. This marks the first ICRC shipment to Iran since the latest escalation of hostilities and one of the first cross-border humanitarian deliveries to the country in six weeks.

A total of 14 trucks dispatched from the ICRC warehouse in Jordan carried vital household items sufficient to meet the needs of nearly 25,000 people. The supplies include blankets, jerrycans, kitchen sets, tarpaulins, hygiene parcels, solar lamps, buckets and mattresses. The first shipment of five trucks was handed over to the IRCS in Tehran for onward distribution, while the remaining nine trucks are expected to be delivered later this week.

Additionally, 200 generators and 100 motor pumps purchased locally were donated to the IRCS in support of its relief and rescue operations.

The ICRC is also preparing further deliveries of life-saving medical supplies and other critical assistance, which it hopes to dispatch in the coming weeks as it scales up support for the IRCS’s humanitarian response.

“At a time when humanitarian needs remain high across the country, we hope this shipment will bring some relief to communities enduring the devastating impact of the conflict,” said Vincent Cassard, head of the ICRC delegation in Iran.

“We aim to expand our support in the coming weeks and to continue backing the humanitarian efforts of the IRCS,” Cassard added. “Their dedicated response has been extraordinary, particularly given the challenging conditions in which they are operating. We remain committed to supporting and enabling their vital work.”

While the current ceasefire has provided much-needed respite and enabled increased efforts to address urgent needs, the consequences of the conflict continue to weigh heavily on affected communities.

The ICRC said it stands ready to further assist those in need in close cooperation with the IRCS and in coordination with relevant authorities, and reiterated its call on all parties to respect international humanitarian law.

By Vafa Guliyeva