The international Red Cross movement announced on Tuesday that a shipment of crucial medical supplies and humanitarian aid has successfully crossed into Iran, marking its first delivery since the onset of the war. The convoy entered Iran on Sunday after departing from Ankara, Turkey, on Friday.
This delivery represents one of the earliest cross-border shipments of medical assistance by any organization since the conflict erupted with Israeli and US strikes on Iran on February 28. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) confirmed the shipment included trauma kits designed to provide immediate, life-saving care.
Tommaso Della Longa, an IFRC spokesperson, emphasized the critical nature of this operation, noting that humanitarian supply chains into Iran have been severely disrupted in recent weeks due to the ongoing conflict. This disruption has made it increasingly difficult and costly to deliver essential medical and relief items to those in urgent need. The IFRC plans to send additional trauma kits within the next three weeks.
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), another branch of the Red Cross movement, reported that it had delivered a separate cross-border shipment on Monday. This shipment consisted of 171 metric tonnes of vital relief goods transported by 14 trucks from its warehouse in Jordan. The supplies included blankets, mattresses, jerrycans, kitchen sets, tarpaulins, and solar lamps, intended to support nearly 25,090 people.
Additionally, the ICRC donated 200 generators and 100 motor pumps, procured locally, to the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) to aid ongoing relief and rescue efforts. Vincent Cassard, head of the ICRC delegation in Iran, expressed hope that this shipment would alleviate some of the suffering faced by communities severely impacted by the conflict. He also affirmed plans to expand support and continue assisting the IRCS in the coming weeks.
Della Longa drew attention to the immense pressure on the Iranian Red Crescent, highlighting that four of its relief workers have lost their lives while performing their duties since the conflict began. He described this loss as unacceptable, underscoring the dangerous conditions faced by humanitarian workers on the ground.
