15 April 2026
News Agency:News
IRCS President Urges ICRC to Respond to Violations of International ‎Humanitarian Law in Airstrikes on Iran ‎
TEHRAN, 23 March 2026 (IRCS) - Pir Hossein Kolivand, President of the ‎Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), said in an online meeting with Ms. ‎Mirjana Spoljaric, President of the International Committee of the Red ‎Cross (ICRC), that international humanitarian law has been violated ‎during the airstrikes on Iran, emphasizing the need for ICRC support for ‎civilians and the injured.‎
In the meeting held on Monday morning, 23 March, Dr. Kolivand presented the latest figures on the damage Iran has suffered from the airstrikes between 28 February and 23 March. The damage includes 62,253 residential units, 19,162 commercial units (more than 25,000 of these in Tehran), 275 medical centers and EMS facilities, 498 schools, 17 branches, centers and posts of the Iranian Red Crescent, 48 relief vehicles, and three relief helicopters. He also reported the martyrdom of 21 medical staff and one aid worker in the U.S.–Israel airstrikes. Furthermore, the IRCS president noted that the strikes targeted the Dena destroyer, cultural and tourism centers, civilian airliners, and energy infrastructure. According to Kolivand, many of those martyerd or injured in the airstrikes are under 18, and a significant number are women and pregnant women. He stressed that these incidents represent blatant violations of international humanitarian law, adding: “We expect the International Committee of the Red Cross, in addition to expressing solidarity with the people of Iran, to respond, as a neutral institution, to violations of international humanitarian law.” “Last night in Tehran, residential buildings were targeted, and we expect you to fulfill your duty in this regard and provide firm support for civilians and those affected,” Kolivand added. The president of the Iranian Red Crescent emphasized that members of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement are members of one family. “What were the Geneva Conventions adopted for? Are these rules only meant to be cited on paper?” he aske Ms. Spoljaric. Addressing the ICRC president, Kolivand said that the Committee is fully aware that international humanitarian law has been violated during the airstrikes on Iran. He added that the ICRC delegation in Iran has visited the targeted buildings in Tehran, and called on the ICRC to condemn the attacks on civilians and on medical, educational, and relief centers. He concluded by saying that all documents and data on the airstrikes and damages have been provided to the ICRC, and that he expects joint and bilateral cooperation between the Iranian Red Crescent Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross to continue throughout the ongoing conflict.
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