TEHRAN — Iran’s Welfare Organization is set to launch new centers for emergency social services in 140 cities with a population of 50,000 or more in the next Iranian calendar year, starting on March 21, 2017.

Currently emergency social services centers are operating in 197 cities which would react to cases of child abuse, suicidal behaviors, street children, domestic abuse, family violence, etc., IRIB quoted Habibollah Masoudi-Farid, an official with the welfare organization, as saying.

Emergency social services came into operation since 1999 in Iran, Masoudi-Farid said, adding that new social services centers were set up in 20 cities over the current Iranian calendar year.

Mentioning the inclusion of emergency social services in the sixth five-year development plan he highlighted that budget for setting up new centers in 140 cities will be approved by the administration and Majlis (Iranian parliament).

MQ/MG