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🏛️ Iranian State Media

IRCS Provides Critical Relief Services Amid Severe Weather Conditions

Jan 23, 2026 January 23, 2026 4 min read 📰 Tehran Times
📋 Key Takeaway

The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) provided rescue services to 267 individuals over three days, conducting 211 operations and transferring many to medical centers amidst severe weather conditions. The IRCS has played a crucial role in humanitarian efforts, assisting over 675,300 people in the current Iranian year. This highlights the IRCS's importance in disaster response and humanitarian aid in Iran.

🔍 Quick Context Guide
💡 Bottom Line: The IRCS's recent operations underscore its critical role in disaster response in Iran, highlighting the need for robust humanitarian systems.

👥 Key Players

Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) MENTIONED
Humanitarian organization
"The IRCS is a key player in disaster response and humanitarian aid in Iran, providing critical services during emergencies."
Hossam Elsharkawi MENTIONED
Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, IFRC
"He represents the international community's recognition of IRCS's efforts and facilitates collaboration between organizations."
Pirhossein Kolivand MENTIONED
Head of IRCS
"His leadership is crucial for the operational effectiveness and international standing of the IRCS."

📰 What Happened

The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) provided rescue services to 267 individuals over three days due to severe weather conditions, conducting 211 operations and transferring many to medical centers. This highlights the IRCS's ongoing commitment to humanitarian efforts in Iran.

  • IRCS teams conducted 211 operations and assisted 267 people in severe weather.
  • In the current Iranian year, IRCS has provided services to over 675,300 people.

💡 Why It Matters

🇮🇷 For Iran: This reinforces the importance of the IRCS in providing timely assistance during emergencies, which is vital for public safety and trust in government institutions.
🌍 Regional: The IRCS's effectiveness can serve as a model for disaster response in other countries in the MENA region.
🌐 International: International recognition of the IRCS's efforts may enhance collaboration and support from global humanitarian organizations.

📚 Background

The Iranian Red Crescent Society is part of the global Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, providing emergency assistance and disaster relief. Iran frequently faces natural disasters, making the role of organizations like the IRCS essential.

Disaster response in Iran Humanitarian aid organizations
📡 Source: STATE MEDIA
📊 Confidence: 70%
The source is state-run, which may emphasize positive aspects of government-affiliated organizations like the IRCS.

TEHRAN – A total of 267 people received rescue services from the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) over the past three days.From January 18 to 20, 239 IRCS teams consisting of 689 rescuers conducted 211 operations, and transferred 105 people to medical centers, IRNA quoted Mohammad-Hossein Kobadi, an official with the IRCS, as saying.The rescuers transferred 36 people to safe places, and pulled 33 vehicles out of the snow, saving 106 passengers from the risk of frostbite in blizzards, the official added.In the first ten months of the current Iranian year, which started in March 2025, the Iranian Red Crescent Society has provided rescue services to 675,300 people across the country.These include 29,926 accidents all over the country. That is, 15,774 traffic accidents, 823 climatic accidents, and 1,178 cases of accidents occurred in mountainous areas. About 5,754 individuals were visited in person during mass gatherings. There were also 2,736 medical emergencies, 268 water accidents, 379 industrial hazards, and 3,059 other cases, the IRCS website reported.During the same period, the IRCS relief teams transported 16,593 people to medical centers, provided emergency accommodation for 244,977 individuals, and treated 167,457 others on site.Since the beginning of the current Iranian year, a total of 1,949 accidents have been recorded in the mountains and forests. Rescuers transferred 626 people to medical centers and provided relief services to 125 individuals on site.IRCS is a key humanitarian actorIn November 2025, Hossam Elsharkawi, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), highlighted the role of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) as one of the region’s and the world’s key humanitarian actors.Lauding the IRCS efforts, Elsharkawi congratulated Pirhossein Kolivand’s re-election as the head of the IRCS, saying that the IRCS decisions are highly effective at international levels, IRNA reported.The official made the remarks in an online meeting with Kolivand on November 14, 2025. During the meeting, the two officials discussed ways to foster collaborative efforts, develop rescue systems to enhance the country’s preparedness and response capabilities, and conduct international meetings and conferences in Iran.The two sides emphasized the need to implement the previously signed memoranda of understanding between the two organizations to lay the ground for promoting educational, operational, and logistic collaborations.MT/MG

From January 18 to 20, 239 IRCS teams consisting of 689 rescuers conducted 211 operations, and transferred 105 people to medical centers, IRNA quoted Mohammad-Hossein Kobadi, an official with the IRCS, as saying.

The rescuers transferred 36 people to safe places, and pulled 33 vehicles out of the snow, saving 106 passengers from the risk of frostbite in blizzards, the official added.

In the first ten months of the current Iranian year, which started in March 2025, the Iranian Red Crescent Society has provided rescue services to 675,300 people across the country.

These include 29,926 accidents all over the country. That is, 15,774 traffic accidents, 823 climatic accidents, and 1,178 cases of accidents occurred in mountainous areas. About 5,754 individuals were visited in person during mass gatherings. There were also 2,736 medical emergencies, 268 water accidents, 379 industrial hazards, and 3,059 other cases, the IRCS website reported.

During the same period, the IRCS relief teams transported 16,593 people to medical centers, provided emergency accommodation for 244,977 individuals, and treated 167,457 others on site.

Since the beginning of the current Iranian year, a total of 1,949 accidents have been recorded in the mountains and forests. Rescuers transferred 626 people to medical centers and provided relief services to 125 individuals on site.

IRCS is a key humanitarian actor

In November 2025, Hossam Elsharkawi, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), highlighted the role of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) as one of the region’s and the world’s key humanitarian actors.

Lauding the IRCS efforts, Elsharkawi congratulated Pirhossein Kolivand’s re-election as the head of the IRCS, saying that the IRCS decisions are highly effective at international levels, IRNA reported.

The official made the remarks in an online meeting with Kolivand on November 14, 2025. During the meeting, the two officials discussed ways to foster collaborative efforts, develop rescue systems to enhance the country’s preparedness and response capabilities, and conduct international meetings and conferences in Iran.

The two sides emphasized the need to implement the previously signed memoranda of understanding between the two organizations to lay the ground for promoting educational, operational, and logistic collaborations.

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Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →

Translation confidence: 100%

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