TEHRAN – The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has been asked to head up the health working group of BRICS, comprised of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.

The great capabilities and accomplishments of the IRCS in various fields have made BRICS eager to cooperate with the society, IRNA quoted Alena Peryshinka, co-chair of the BRICS Civil Forum, as saying.

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

Following discussions with Iran’s Foreign Minister  Hossein Amir Abdollahian, the IRCS was decided to be the representative of Iran in BRICS, she added.

Kolivand, for his part,  called the IRCS the best candidate to chair the health working group while elaborating on the achievements of the IRCS in recent years.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society is active in various fields, such as relief operations in response to hazards and emergencies, he explained.

With some three million volunteers and 70,000 professional rescuers, the IRCS provides relief services on roads, mountains, and coasts ceaselessly.

Moreover, it has established crescent houses in different parts of the country where volunteers provide valuable relief assistance before and after emergencies.

The official stressed that education plays a key role in disaster management, noting that IRCS trains students how to prevent and handle emergencies as a way to raise public awareness in society.

Being equipped with 18 helicopters, hundreds of rescue vehicles, and warehouses storing essential items such as food and medicine, the IRCS has enhanced its readiness to address the crisis.

Currently, the IRCS factories produce a range of medicines, medical equipment, medicinal plants, and relief items. Moreover, it has concluded a contract with the federation of national societies (IFRC) to manufacture relief tents to be used in international crises.

Kolivand also highlighted the commitment of the IRCS to assist needy people both domestically and internationally citing its support for people affected by devastating earthquakes in Turkey, Afghanistan, and Syria.

Finally, he mentioned the potential of the society to share its expertise in providing relief and health services to the people in Africa, Asia, and Latin America through IRCS medical facilities.

The BRICS group, established in 2009, has emerged as a significant force shaping global economic discussions. 

Iran, alongside Argentina, Egypt, Ethiopia, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia, received an invitation to join this influential bloc effective January 1, 2024, signaling a significant transformation in the geopolitical arena.

Russia chairs the BRICS group in 2024.

Iran is IFRC’s strongest member in region

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.”

Elsharkawi made the remarks in an online meeting with Razieh Alishvandi, the Iranian Red Crescent Society’s director for international affairs, Mehr reported.

The quick and effective presence of the Iranian Red Crescent Society in the rescue operations and then providing 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