The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has dispatched 171 metric tonnes of essential relief supplies to the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), marking its first shipment to Iran since the latest escalation of hostilities and one of the earliest cross-border humanitarian deliveries in six weeks.
The consignment, transported in 14 trucks from the ICRC warehouse in Jordan, contains vital household items capable of supporting nearly 25,000 people affected by the conflict.
Five trucks carrying the initial batch were delivered to Tehran and handed over to the IRCS for immediate distribution, while the remaining nine trucks are expected to arrive later this week.
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The relief materials include blankets, jerrycans, kitchen sets, tarpaulins, hygiene kits, solar lamps, buckets, and mattresses, aimed at addressing urgent humanitarian needs across affected communities.
In addition to the shipment, the ICRC also donated 200 generators and 100 motor pumps, procured locally, to strengthen the IRCS’s rescue and relief operations.
Speaking on the development, Vincent Cassard, Head of the ICRC delegation in Iran, expressed hope that the assistance would ease the suffering of affected populations.
“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,” he said.
Cassard added that the organization is preparing additional deliveries of life-saving medical supplies and critical assistance in the coming weeks, as it scales up support for the IRCS.
“We aim to expand our support in the coming weeks and to continue backing the humanitarian efforts of the IRCS. Their dedicated response has been extraordinary, particularly given the challenging conditions in which they are operating,” he noted.
While a fragile ceasefire has provided temporary relief and enabled humanitarian access, the ICRC warned that the impact of the conflict continues to weigh heavily on affected communities.
The organization reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the IRCS and relevant authorities, while urging all parties to respect international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians.