TEHRAN - The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has released a report on the most important achievements of the Iranian Red Crescent Society during January-December 2023.

According to the report, the Iranian Red Crescent continues to tackle the impacts of climate change, program adaptability, and preparedness efforts that have been triggered by the climate crisis.

Climate and environment

In 2023, the Iranian Red Crescent worked on tackling climate change by developing community-level adaptation plans through volunteer initiatives and Helal Houses (community-owned Red Crescent Houses), mobilizing health caravans, and implementing early warning systems for heat waves, droughts, and flash floods.

It raised awareness among local communities and staff about climate change, created culturally appropriate educational materials, and enhanced staff capacity for climate-smart programming. Additionally, they significantly improved drought-affected communities’ access to clean water and healthcare, as well as their food security and livelihoods.

Disasters and crises

In 2023, the Iranian Red Crescent raised community awareness about disaster risk reduction through educational sessions and established 26 micro-business initiatives in vulnerable villages in Iran. It developed urban contingency plans for megacities, focusing on earthquakes.

In reference to the National Society’s support for humanitarian responses outside the country, it mobilized relief items, medical supplies, and search and rescue teams following earthquakes in Morocco, Syria, Turkey, and Herat, Afghanistan, and sent a 450-ton humanitarian aid consignment to Afghanistan.

In Gaza, it dispatched relief items, health emergency response units, and a rapid deployment emergency hospital. Additionally, the National Society provided humanitarian aid, including blankets, tents, plastic sheets, floor mats, and canned foods, to flood-affected people in southwest Pakistan.

Health and wellbeing

In 2023, the Iranian Red Crescent focused on making health and care initiatives more affordable for vulnerable populations by adapting systems for pandemic preparedness, supporting immunization targets, and promoting equitable vaccine access.

It conducted health training, revised feedback mechanisms, tailored health messages, and engaged community stakeholders for health promotion. The National Society also enhanced mental health and psychosocial support services, mapped referral services, and trained staff in caring for staff and volunteers.

Migration and displacement

In 2023, the Iranian Red Crescent addressed humanitarian needs in migration and displacement exacerbated by economic crises and multiple disasters, including internal displacement from Afghanistan. It responded to heavy flooding and provided emergency shelter, food, household items, and essential health as well as water, sanitation, and hygiene services to nearly one million internally displaced Iranians.

The National Society’s coordination with central authorities and humanitarian actors supported dignified assistance for vulnerable populations in destination cities, despite challenges such as poverty, pollution, and informal settlements.

Values, power, and inclusion

In 2023, the Iranian Red Crescent worked on improving its understanding of protection, gender, and inclusion (PGI) by using disaggregated data across assessments and operations. It adopted and piloted PGI minimum standards in emergencies, implemented a diversity management training package, and conducted PGI self-assessments with corresponding action plans.

It also rolled out a child safeguarding policy across all operations, established community feedback mechanisms, and conducted extensive training in community engagement and accountability, integrating these standards into their organizational practices.

Enabling local actors

In 2023, the Iranian Red Crescent initiated the Organizational Capacity Assessment and Certification (OCAC) process to clarify its organizational needs and compliance with standards, in connection with strategic planning and prioritization of development goals. The National Society also strengthened emergency operations and engaged in peer-to-peer exchanges on funding mechanisms.

The National Society developed communications and public advocacy resources, as well as a communications strategy plan with the aim of increasing the impact and visibility of its achievements.

Serious threats

Water scarcity and severe droughts due to climate change pose serious threats, especially when combined with other hazards like sandstorms in the eastern parts of the country. In 2023, the National Society worked on initiatives such as developing community-level climate adaptation plans through the entrepreneurship initiatives of volunteers and ‘Red Crescent Houses.’

While working to improve existing action plans, the National Society mobilized health caravans to reduce climate impact and implemented Early Warning Early Action initiatives against heat waves, droughts, and flash floods. The National Society worked to develop sessions to raise awareness of the effects of climate change among targeted local communities, National Society staff, and volunteers, with a focus on densely populated urban areas.

Other efforts of the National Society were focused on developing culturally appropriate climate change information, education, and communication (IEC) materials, as well as providing staff with knowledge, tools, and skills to integrate climate change adaptation and climate-smart programming and operations. The National Society also worked on developing targets against the commitments of the Climate and Environment Charter.

Through drought relief projects, the National Society witnessed significant transformation within communities grappling with drought and water scarcity. The scope of the required assistance spans diverse critical areas such as livelihood sustainability, combating food scarcity, ensuring access to clean water, and enhancing healthcare provisions.

The IFRC continued to provide long-term support to help the Iranian Red Crescent to become equipped with knowledge, tools, and skills to integrate climate change adaptation and climate-smart programming into operations. It supported the National Society’s efforts in integrating climate-related and environmental considerations across programs and operations through the provision of practical guidance and ‘do no harm’ approaches.

In May, Razieh Alishvandi, the IRCS director for international affairs, and Vincent Cassard, the representatives of the IFRC in Iran, held a meeting in Tehran on the occasion of the World Red Cross Week and the Day of ‘Humanitarian Diplomacy, Global Solidarity for the Preservation of Values’.

During the meeting, Alishvandi said the IRCS has been effectively participating in different international projects, including climate change and drought resilience.

The organization has conducted various programs to improve the situation of refugees and facilitate the families’ reunification with the help of the IFRC, she noted.

Photo: Razieh Alishvandi, the IRCS director for international affairs (L), and Vincent Cassard, the representatives of the IFRC in Iran.