TEHRAN –Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, Iranian people have donated almost 1.5 trillion rials (some 30 million dollars) to help Palestinian people, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS).

The money is being used to provide food and medical products for people in Gaza, IRNA quoted Vahid Salimi, an IRCS official, as saying.

On February 4, the IRCS dispatched the second ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Previously, an air cargo and a ship carrying aid were sent to Gaza. This was the third consignment of humanitarian aid provided by the Iranian people.

It includes medicine, medical equipment, food, and biological items such as tents and blankets.

Over the past six months, more than 10 tons of humanitarian aid were delivered to Gaza.

Establishing a joint fund to help Gaza

On January 21, IRCS head Pirhossein Kolivand suggested setting up a joint fund with other countries to provide aid to people in Gaza. 

He made the remarks in an address to the International Humanitarian Conference to Support Palestine which was held in Tehran.

Referring to the crimes committed by the Zionists in the Gaza Strip in the last one hundred days, he stated that the activities of the international organizations have become ineffective due to the barriers made by the Zionist regime. “If we fail to do something to help, history will judge us,” IRNA reported.

Exploring possible avenues to provide humanitarian aid, using humanitarian diplomacy to stop the war permanently, creating a joint financial fund, and declaring crimes against the Zionist regime were among the axes of the conference.

ICRC appreciates IRCS

In November 2023, Vincent Cassard, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) delegation in Tehran, met with Kolivand, expressing gratitude to the Iranian Red Crescent Society for providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

IRCS cooperation in providing aid to Gaza is valuable and we are thankful to Iran for its assistance in this regard, he said, the IRCS website reported.

The officials also discussed partnership and joint efforts in assisting the people of Gaza.

“We are interested in cooperating with the Iranian Red Crescent Society to implement various joint missions in different fields including education, refugees, and immigration. The Iranian Red Crescent Society holds enormous potential that paves the way for expanding cooperation," Cassard said.

MT/MG