TEHRAN –The Chadian Red Cross has asked the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) to share its experiences in several sectors including healthy water, rapid response to natural incidents, and war refugees.

“Arrival of war refugees into Chad from Sudan, Nigeria, and Central Africa has caused a severe humanitarian crisis in the country requiring diverse humanitarian operations,” ISNA quoted the Chadian Red Cross President Khalla Ahmat Senoussi as saying.

He made the remarks in a meeting with the head of the IRCS, Pirhossein Kolivand, in Tehran on Friday.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the  International Congress of Relief and Rescue, Health and Mass Gatherings Management in Arbaeen which was held in Tehran on August 1 and 2.

Kolivand, for his part, expressed willingness to expand cooperation with the Chadian Red Cross highlighting that currently, the IRCS has medical centers in 14 countries.

“In addition to the healthcare sector, the cooperation can be centered around other fields like public education and promoting social resilience in the face of disasters,” he further noted.

The official went on to elaborate on the IRCS capabilities and potentials.

“The society has more than three million members who are well-experienced in addressing humanitarian crises and natural disasters nationally and globally,” Kolivand added.

“Helal (the IRCS) textile company, manufactures relief tents and sells them to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), and other national societies.”

Moreover, the IRCS produces medical equipment, herbal extracts, and medicines that can meet the needs of the Chadian Red Cross, the official highlighted.

IRCS is IFRC’s strongest member in region

On May 10, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) expressed willingness to expand collaboration with the Iranian Red Crescent Society.

Razieh Alishvandi, the IRCS director for international affairs, and Xavier Castellanos Mosquera, the IFRC undersecretary general for national society development and operations coordination, discussed ways to enhance cooperation.

The meeting was held on the sidelines of the preliminary session of the 34th IFRC international conference.

During the meeting, Alishvandi elaborated on IRCS capabilities in various fields of sanitary, treatment, rehabilitation, rescue and relief, logistics, education, volunteers, youth, climate change, crescent houses, mass gathering management, textile production, medical organizations, and many other things.

Castellanos Mosquera, for his part, acknowledged that the IRCS is one of the strongest members of the IFRC, saying the IRCS could be a role model for other societies.

The official went on to ask the IRCS to share its expertise with IFRC by holding a webinar session and proposed the IFRC managers of different sectors, particularly logistics, and health, visit the IRCS medical equipment, artificial organ and prostheses production, and pharmaceutical companies, as well as rehabilitation centers to learn more about the IRCS experiences and knowledge.

"Despite the fact that the information of the Iranian Red Crescent Society has not yet been fully registered in the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent health map, the range of services provided by the organization at the national level has placed it among the top societies compared to 107 national societies that have registered their information, Castellanos Mosquera noted.

He also suggested that the full membership of the IRCS in a think tank helped to investigate the adverse impacts of sanctions.

In July 2023, Hossam Elsharkawi, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), referred to Iran as the strongest member in the region.

“Among the 192 national Red Crescent and Red Cross societies around the world, the Red Crescent of the Islamic Republic of Iran has always been one of the most important and strongest societies and a reliable member of the Federation.”

The quick and effective presence of the Iranian Red Crescent Society in the rescue operations and the provision of relief to earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria last winter shows the good preparedness of the IRCS in response to natural disasters, the IFRC official highlighted.

MT/MG