This bulletin is being issued for information only, and reflects the current situation and details available at this time. The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), with the support of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), has determined that external assistance is not required, and is therefore not seeking funding or other assistance from donors at this time.
The situation
Between 13 and 17 April, 2016, heavy rains in Iran’s Western and South-western provinces have resulted in flash floods that killed three people. In total, sixteen provinces in the country including Lorestan, Ilam, Fars, Kermanshah, Khuzestan, Chaharmahal-Bakhtiyari, Hamedan, Esfahan, Khorasan Shomali, Khorasan Razavi, Kurdestan, Alborz, Yazd, Zanjan, Kohgiluyeh-Boyer Ahmad and Azarbaijan Sharghi were hit by heavy torrential rains and major flooding whilst three provinces of Ilam, Lorestan and Khuzestan are badly damaged.
Red Cross and Red Crescent action
The Red Crescent Relief and Rescue Organisation of the Iranian Red Crescent Society reported that 16 provinces and 166 cities, towns and villages have been affected by the recent heavy spring rainfalls throughout the country in last four days. A total of 285 operational team including 1,310 Red Crescent relief workers and rescuers with the help of 266 operational vehicles have provided humanitarian services to 11,264 flood affected people in 524 relief and rescue operations. They have saved the lives of 407 persons, transferred 226 injured persons to nearby medical centres and pumped out 370 flooded residential units so far. Around 661 people have received outpatient services and 57 people were immediately evacuated to safer places by the Red Crescent relief and medical forces.
To date, 740 relief tents, 4,400 blankets, 1,400 rugs (ground sheets), 3,000 kilograms of plastic sheets, 170 heaters, 4,000 cans of canned food, and 1,200 bottles of mineral water have been distributed amongst the affected and 3,796 persons received emergency sheltering. The Red Crescent relief and rescue operations continue to provide relief aid in the provinces of Lorestan, Ilam, Fars, Khorasan Razavi and Khuzestan.
While the menacing weather is expected to continue, dams in the south-western regions have been pushed to their limits due to days of relentless rain but none was burst, according to the official governmental reports have provided humanitarian services to 11,264 flood affected people in 524 relief and rescue operations. They have saved the lives of 407 persons, transferred 226 injured persons to nearby medical centres and pumped out 370 flooded residential units so far. Around 661 people have received outpatient services and 57 people were immediately evacuated to safer places by the Red Crescent relief and medical forces.