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The Turkish Red Crescent said Friday it has dispatched 48 tons of shelter and hygiene supplies to Iran for civilians affected by the ongoing conflict.
The aid convoy departed from the outskirts of Ankara under the coordination of Türkiye’s Foreign Ministry, carrying essential materials to address urgent humanitarian needs.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) warned of a worsening crisis.
"Humanitarian needs in Iran are extremely high," IFRC spokesperson Scott Craig told Agence France-Presse (AFP) shortly before the convoy departed.
The relief effort comes as a two-week ceasefire between the United States and Iran appears fragile, with both sides accusing each other of violations. The conflict has killed more than 2,000 people over the past five weeks.
Turkish Red Crescent President Fatma Meric Yilmaz said civilians bear the brunt of war.
“In wars, civilians always pay the highest price. As the Red Crescent and Red Cross movement, as a humanitarian aid network and the conscience of the world, we must begin by reiterating our call for an end to wars,” she said.
She added that the organization continues to call for compliance with international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions while working to protect civilians and meet urgent needs.
Yilmaz said the response followed a request earlier this week from the Iranian Red Crescent for shelter, hygiene supplies and trauma support.
“We coordinated rapidly. Today, we are sending off our aid trucks. There are more than 48 tons of materials here. This aid consists of four trucks, but I would like to emphasize that this is just the beginning. As long as needs continue, we will keep asking ‘What do you need?’ and continue our support,” she said.
The convoy includes around 200 trauma kits containing emergency medical supplies for bombing victims, as well as emergency shelters, hygiene kits and first-aid supplies.
The vehicles bear the message “Humanitarian aid from the Turkish people to the brotherly people of Iran,” an AFP journalist observed.
The convoy is expected to reach Tehran within 48 hours, where the supplies will be distributed to centers hosting displaced people, Turkish Red Crescent official Alper Kucuk told AFP.
Citing information from the Iranian Red Crescent, Yilmaz said approximately 3.6 million people have been displaced out of a population of around 90 million.
“About 62,000 homes and more than 20,000 commercial units have been destroyed. There are also fatalities and injuries. The Iranian Red Crescent has also been affected. Seventeen service centers, 94 ambulances and three helicopters have been damaged,” she said.
Yilmaz said the Turkish Red Crescent continues humanitarian operations in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon.
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“We have never withdrawn from Gaza and Palestine, and we will not. Even if limited, the supplies of our 21st aid ship are reaching the region. However, promises of 600 trucks per day entering Gaza are not being fulfilled. Around 100 trucks can enter daily, which makes operations difficult,” she said.
“Despite this, we continue to distribute hot meals for 30,000 people every day. We are trying to stand by the people of Gaza through local procurement. We are also in contact with the Lebanese Red Cross. There are casualties, injuries and displacement there as well. We are ready to send aid whenever needed,” she added.
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