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The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched a 40 million Swiss franc (about $51.5 million) emergency appeal on Tuesday to support humanitarian operations in Iran as needs rise amid ongoing hostilities.
The appeal will help the Iranian Red Crescent Society expand assistance to about 5 million people across 30 affected provinces over the next 16 months, focusing on those impacted by infrastructure damage, displacement risks, and disruptions to essential services.
“With humanitarian needs growing sharply with every passing day, this emergency appeal will help scale up lifesaving assistance and get support to those most affected,” Maria Martinez, IFRC head of delegation in Iran, said in a statement.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society has been responding since hostilities escalated on Feb. 28.
According to the IFRC, 529 branches are currently involved in response efforts across 197 cities, with more than 2,100 response teams and over 6,500 staff and volunteers deployed.
Emergency teams are conducting search-and-rescue operations, providing medical care and supporting affected communities, the statement said.
A nationwide hotline has also received thousands of calls offering mental health and psychosocial support.
The appeal will fund emergency shelter, relief supplies, health services, water and sanitation support, and psychosocial assistance.
The federation has already allocated 1.5 million Swiss francs (about $1.9 million) from its Disaster Response Emergency Fund to support initial relief operations.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev ordered the dispatch of humanitarian aid to Iran amid the ongoing U.S.-Israeli war with Tehran, according to media reports on Tuesday.
The Azerbaijani state news agency APA reported that 10 tons of flour and around two tons of medicine and medical supplies were sent to Iran along with other humanitarian goods.
“The humanitarian aid sent to the Islamic Republic of Iran by vehicles of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations includes 10 tons of flour, 6 tons of rice, 2.4 tons of sugar, more than 4 tons of water, about 600 kilograms of tea, and about 2 tons of medicines and medical supplies,” the agency said.
Tensions escalated across the Middle East after the United States and Israel launched large-scale attacks on Iran on Feb. 28.
According to Iranian authorities, the strikes have killed more than 1,300 people, including former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel as well as Gulf countries hosting U.S. military assets.
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