IFRC launches $51.5 million emergency appeal for Iran as humanitarian needs soar

2026-03-10 - 14:03

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) launched a 40 million Swiss franc (approximately $51.5 million) emergency appeal Tuesday to support humanitarian operations in Iran as needs escalate following the US-Israeli military campaign that began Feb. 28. The appeal will enable the Iranian Red Crescent Society to expand assistance to about 5 million people across 30 affected provinces over the next 16 months, focusing on those impacted by infrastructure damage, displacement risks and disruptions to essential services. Scaling up response "With humanitarian needs growing sharply with every passing day, this Emergency Appeal will help scale up lifesaving assistance and get support to those most affected," Maria Martinez, IFRC head of delegation in Iran, said in a statement. The Iranian Red Crescent Society has been responding since hostilities escalated, with 529 branches currently involved in response efforts across 197 cities, deploying more than 2,100 response teams and over 6,500 staff and volunteers. Emergency operations Emergency teams are carrying out search-and-rescue operations, providing medical care and supporting affected communities, the statement said. A nationwide hotline has received thousands of calls offering mental health and psychosocial support. The appeal will fund emergency shelter, relief supplies, health services, water and sanitation support, and psychosocial assistance for populations affected by the conflict, which has killed more than 1,300 people including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and caused widespread infrastructure damage. Initial funding The federation has already allocated 1.5 million Swiss francs ($1.9 million) from its Disaster Response Emergency Fund to support initial relief operations, according to the statement. The international appeal reflects the growing scale of humanitarian needs as the conflict enters its 11th day, with Iranian retaliatory strikes continuing and civilian infrastructure increasingly affected by the hostilities.