Iran & Iraq Earthquake: Red Crescent teams deliver lifesaving aid

November 14, 2017

Spokespersons and photos available following the 7.3 magnitude earthquake

Red Crescent volunteers in Iran and northern Iraq are working around the clock in the aftermath of a devastating 7.3 magnitude earthquake that shook the border region Sunday evening.

In Iran, at least 430 people were killed and more than 7,000 injured by the quake. Iranian Red Crescent volunteers performed search-and-rescue and first aid in the immediate aftermath—deploying more than 100 teams to support disaster response efforts including sniffer dogs, debris removal, emergency shelter, first aid, and search-and-rescue.

As aftershocks continue, Red Crescent teams are distributing relief items including tents, ground sheets, blankets, kitchen sets, and food items such as canned food and rice.

In northern Iraq, the Red Crescent is reporting 10 people killed and more than 425 injured by the Sunday evening quake. The Iraqi Red Crescent deployed teams to evacuate the injured and provide first aid. A hospital in Darbandikhan was damaged, so the Red Crescent delivered first aid materials and set up a tent inside the hospital to receive and treat the injured temporarily.

As families start returning back to their homes in Kirkuk and surrounding areas, Iraqi Red Crescent health teams are offering services and volunteers are working alongside the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to distribute relief supplies such as water, food, kitchen sets, hygiene items, thermoses, kettles, tarps, blankets, and towels.

MEDIA CONTACTS

In Iran: Ms. Mansoureh Bagheri, Iran Red Crescent Society Director for international Operations, tel: +989 12 13 96432, intdep@rcs.ir

In Iraq: Mr. Mohamad Khosaii, Iraq Red Crescent Spokesperson, Tel: +964 77 06 740 084

In Beirut: Rana Cassou, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Tel: +961 71 80 2779, Rana.CASSOU@ifrc.org

In Geneva: Laura Ngo-Fontaine, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), Tel: +41 79 959 3662, laura.ngofontaine@ifrc.org

PHOTOS

Iran photos for editorial use, here

Iraq photos for editorial use, here

SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow @iraqircs and @IFRC_MENA accounts for updates

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.