TEHRAN – Iranian and Iraqi officials held a meeting today in Baghdad to review and discuss strategies to facilitate the Arbaeen pilgrimage and ensure the safety of pilgrims.

Arbaeen pilgrimage, which is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, comes 40 days after Ashura, the martyrdom anniversary of Imam Hussein (AS), the third Imam of Shia Muslims, and the grandson of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

Iran's Deputy Minister of Interior, Majid Mirahmadi,  and head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), Pirhossein Kolivand, in a meeting with the Iraqi Minister of Interior, Abdul Amir al-Shimmari, followed up on the latest arrangements made regarding Arbaeen pilgrimage. 

During the meeting, the Iranian officials obtained permission to operate IRCS rescue helicopters as well as ambulances and bring necessary medicine and equipment to provide medical services to pilgrims.

Referring to the IRCS volunteer medical teams dispatched to provide healthcare services to pilgrims in Iraq during Arbaeen pilgrims, Kolivand said necessary agreements have been made for the presence of Iranian physicians in Iraqi hospitals, and the deployment of relief teams along the roads to provide services.

The IRCS hosted the International Congress on Relief and Rescue, Health, and Mass Gatherings in Arbaeen in Tehran from August 1-2.

Relief and rescue in Arbaeen; hygiene, treatment, and health; training, research, and technology; mass gatherings; passive defense; and public participation were the topics of the conference, the IRCS website reported.

Each year, a huge crowd of people flocks to Karbala, where the holy shrine of Imam Hussein (AS) is located, to perform mourning rituals.

This year Arbaeen falls on August 25. Some five million Iranian pilgrims are estimated to attend the Arbaeen trek.

Also, the 4th International Congress on “Health in Arbaeen” was held in Tehran from July 3 to 5.

A total of 3,500 national and international participants attended the 4th congress. Hosting the event, the Iraqis comprised the majority of foreign attendees to enhance services to pilgrims.

The congress focused on the following scientific areas including accidents and hazards; artificial intelligence; traditional medicine; processions; environmental health; nursing; relief and rescue.

It also covered rehabilitation; forensic medicine; mental health; nutrition; cultural issues; pharmaceuticals; medical tools; as well as mawkibs (voluntary stations to serve the pilgrims). Moreover, some new topics such as dentistry and oral hygiene were discussed.

Xavier Castellanos Mosquera, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) undersecretary-general for national society development and operations coordination, attended the inauguration ceremony of ‘the International Congress of Relief and Rescue, Health and Mass Gatherings Management in Arbaeen’ held in Tehran on August 1 via video conference.

Castellanos Mosquera said that Arbaeen International Congress offers a unique model of mass gathering management for other red crescent societies worldwide.

“The management of mass gatherings demonstrates exceptional expertise and the Iranian Red Crescent Society is a pioneer in sharing its knowledge and experience in this international congress,” Castellanos Mosquera highlighted.

MT/MG