The volunteers of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) are sparing no effort to support the people affected by the pandemic with medical care, awareness-raising as well as vaccinating people.
50,228 new cases. A month ago, on the 17th of August, Iran recorded the highest number of new COVID-19 infections in one day. Today, the situation is already better but we are not yet on the safe side. Especially in Iran’s southern provinces, the situation is still worrisome.
In Kerman and many other provinces, almost every family has members who have gotten infected by the virus. The death toll is still climbing up, with several hundred new deaths every day nationwide.
“The death of a family member under these circumstances is painful, given that we are unable to say goodbye and we cannot grieve them. It is very hard to leave our fellow citizens and compatriots leave the world in such a way,” says Mostafa Salehi, a 32-year-old volunteer from Kerman, his voice laden with sadness.
In addition to COVID-19, the Iranian Red Crescent is responding to a severe drought affecting the lives of more than 2 million people in the country as well as supporting people crossing the border from Afghanistan to Iran — both supported with the resources released from IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF).
Furthermore, the Iranian Red Crescent has managed to secure the import of more than 35 million COVID-19 vaccine shots to Iran. The Red Crescent is the only humanitarian organization in the country granted permission to facilitate the coronavirus vaccine imports.
After the unbridled outbreak of the coronavirus, help is needed all around. The volunteers of the Iranian Red Crescent are there to fill the gaps, making every effort along with doctors, nurses and everyone else involved to alleviate the pain of the people suffering from COVID-19, both in the health facilities as well as houses of those who are being treated at home. Many of the volunteers who were earlier responding to the outbreak in other provinces, are now in Kerman, the current hotspot, showing their solidarity to their compatriots.
Another volunteer, Mostafa’s friend Hossein, 25, has done a Red Crescent first aid training at the university and is helping now to vaccinate people.
“Our medical and nursing staff are exhausted. Hospitals have reached maximum capacity to treat coronavirus patients. This means that many patients are hospitalized at home and still need help with the treatment.”
Nationally, the Iranian Red Crescent has mobilized thousands of volunteers for the coronavirus response. Only in Kerman province, more than 600 Red Crescent volunteers have been responding to the pandemic by screening people, raising awareness, supporting the healthcare facilities and distributing food parcels to the most vulnerable families.
As the dramatic increase of the COVID-19 patients filled the public hospitals in Kerman, private hospitals started to take in COVID-19 patients too, with the Iranian Red Crescent covering the costs for the people treated. In addition, the Iranian Red Crescent is providing medical equipment, such as ventilators, to take home for those who have not been able to secure a spot in a hospital.
“If it was not for the voluntary activities of the Iranian Red Crescent and people donating resources for us, the healthcare would already be at risk of collapse. A significant part of the medical equipment in hospitals is provided through us too”, says Fatemeh Yazdanizadeh, Head of Volunteering Resources and Social Activities Office in Kerman provincial Red Crescent.
It is not just the people in the cities who are benefitting from the work of the Red Crescent.
“Together with teams of volunteers and donors, we have visited remote rural areas in the province. We have identified possible patients and provided treatment for those in need,” says Yazdanizadeh.
Read more: IFRC COVID-19 appeal, IRCS Drough, IRCS Population Movement from Afghanistan
