TEHRAN – The people of Tehran from all walks of life refer in large numbers to blood donation centers to give blood and help treat the citizens injured during the U.S.-Israeli airstrikes, demonstrating their strong bonds of sympathy and solidarity.

In the days when the country is in a state of war, blood donation centers in Tehran showcase scenes of sacrifice and solidarity. Here, Ramadan is not only a month of fasting; it is also a month of sympathy.

In the waiting room of the centers, fasting people sit; young and old, men and women, all with the aim of donating blood for the injured and patients in need.

Babak Yektaparast, an official with the Blood Transfusion Organization, told ISNA that a "waiting list" has been prepared for blood donation. 

“We are witnessing the formation of queues at some blood donation centers” he said, adding: “When a blood donation queue is formed at a center, the waiting time for blood donation increases and I apologize to the people for any possible delays.”
 
Stating that the blood donation process is time-consuming, he said that the process takes about 40 minutes from registration to the end. “Although we use all the human resources capacity, the number of visits for blood donation in some centers exceeds the human resources capacity.”

The aggression have so far led to the martyrdom of more than 1300 civilians, and destruction of 9669 civilian objectives including 7943 residential homes, 1617 commercial and service centers, 32 medical and pharmaceutical centers, 65 schools and educational premises, 13 Red Crescent buildings and a number of energy supply infrastructure. 

The Geneva Conventions and their Additional Protocols are at the core of international humanitarian law, the body of international law that regulates the conduct of armed conflict and seeks to limit its effects. 

They specifically protect people who are not taking part in the hostilities, including civilians, health workers and aid workers, and those who are no longer participating, such as wounded, sick and shipwrecked soldiers and prisoners of war. 

The Conventions and their Protocols call for measures to be taken to prevent or put an end to all breaches. They contain stringent rules to deal with what are known as "grave breaches".  

In January 2025, the former World Health Organization (WHO) representative, Jaffar Hussain, admired the Iranian Blood Transfusion Organization’s leadership in blood safety and transfusion services, and highlighted their remarkable achievement of a 100 percent voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation system, a testament to the principles of universal health coverage in action. He also thanked the blood donors, whose selflessness serves as an inspiration to all.

The official commended the country’s unwavering dedication to tackling the unique challenges surrounding rare blood, emphasizing the critical importance of collaboration, innovation, and unwavering determination in this global endeavor, the WHO website announced in a press release on January 27.

Admiring the IBTO’s efforts and expertise in providing services to patients with rare blood types, the official underscored Iran’s capacity to serve as a model for other nations in the realm of blood transfusion and rare blood management.

Addressing National Rare Blood Day on January 22, 2025, the official praised the country’s steadfast commitment to equitable healthcare access, ensuring that no one is left behind, regardless of their blood type.

He lauded the IBTO leadership in blood safety and transfusion services, highlighting their remarkable achievement of a 100 percent voluntary, non-remunerated blood donation system, a testament to the principles of universal health coverage in action. He also thanked the blood donors, whose selflessness serves as an inspiration to all.

 A total of 2,111,476 Iranians donated blood in the first ten months of the current Iranian year, which started on March 21, 2025.

According to Ahmad Qarah-Baghian, an official with Iran Blood Transfusion Organization, around 1.7 percent of the country’s population donates blood regularly, and the blood donation index is 28 per 1,000 population.

The average amount of blood storage in the country is sufficient for five days, but it can be increased to eight days, IRNA quoted Qarah-Baghian as saying in January.

Blood donations are always needed. The life of some patients, such as those suffering from hemophilia and thalassemia, depends on regular blood transfusions, the official noted.

With an increase in life expectancy in Iran, which is currently 75 years, and a structural change in the population’s average age, the need for blood and its products will significantly increase in the future, he added.