iranian red crescent

Based on initial assessment reports from the Relief and Rescue Organisation of the Iranian Red Crescent, at least 13 people have been killed and 11 injured in unseasonable flash floods in thirteen provinces of Iran during the last six days.   Hussein Darvishi, Deputy Head of Relief and Rescue Organisation for relief and rescue operations in the Iranian Red Crescent Society reported that recent flooding in Iran, triggered by torrential rains since September 16, affected several counties in 13 provinces of Tehran, Alborz, Azarbaijane-Sharghi, Isfahan, Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari, Khorasane-Shomali, Zanjan, Semnan, Kerman, Golestan, Markazi, Mazandaran and Hormozgan so far.   The flood has caused some damage and destroyed infrastructure in at least 52 villages and cities and some villages are inundated by water in these provinces. "So far 229 people have been sheltered, 2,000 people received the relief and rescue services, 8 injured persons received outpatient treatments and 3 were transferred to medical centres up to now," added Darvishi.   The Iranian Red Crescent is assisting in the flood response operations by involving 546 relief workers and rescuers in the form of 144 teams equipped with relief and rescue equipments including rescue sets, water pumps, sniffing dogs plus light and heavy vehicles as well as ambulances. Red Crescent relief efforts are still focused on search and rescue, with priority efforts to evacuate and locate all affected people in all provinces where the floods struck.   Darvishi noted that floodwater from 320 flooded residential units has been pumped out by using 80 water pumps. He also said that the Iranian Red Crescent evacuated 79 persons to safe areas but 13 people, including 6 persons in Pakdasht, 4 persons in Bandar Abbas, 2 persons in Azarshahr and one person in Boroujerd lost their lives during the flood. "560 blankets, 100 moquettes, 26 relief tents and 550 cans of canned food has been distributed by the Iranian Red Crescent amongst the affected by flood so far,".   The National Society is working closely with the local authorities in the affected sites, helping in evacuation and rescue efforts as well as setting up relief tents, providing supplies and establishing the restoring family links services.   In late July 2015, unseasonable floods hit 16 provinces and 56 counties in Iran, leaving at least 23 people dead and 50 injured. The floods were triggered by torrential rains, and they caused great damage to the infrastructure of more than 140 villages.