Red Cross makes first aid shipments into Iran since start of war
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox
An Iranian cleric walks around the scene of residential buildings which were destroyed by US-Israeli airstrikes at the Shahid Broujerdi residential complex in southern Tehran, Iran, on April 14, 2026.
PHOTO: EPA
GENEVA - The international Red Cross movement said on April 14 that a shipment of life-saving medical supplies and other aid has crossed the border into Iran, its first since the start of the war.
The shipment of medical supplies and other aid entered the country on April 12, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said.
The truck convoy, which set off from the Turkish capital Ankara on April 10, marked “one of the first cross-border shipments of medical supplies” by any organisation since the conflict began with a barrage of Israeli and US strikes on Iran on Feb 28, IFRC spokesman Tommaso Della Longa told reporters in Geneva.
He said the IFRC had sent trauma kits, “designed to provide immediate, life-saving care”.
“The operation is critical as humanitarian supply chains into Iran have been severely disrupted in recent weeks due to the conflict, making it increasingly difficult and more costly for essential medical and relief items to reach those in need,” he said.
Mr Della Longa said the IFRC aimed to bring in more trauma kits “in the next three weeks”.
The International Committee of the Red Cross – the other part of the Red Cross movement – meanwhile said it had delivered a first cross-border aid shipment of 171 metric tonnes of essential relief items to Iran on April 13.
It said a total of 14 trucks had been dispatched from its warehouse in Jordan, carrying “vital household items sufficient to meet the needs of nearly 25,090 people”, including blankets, mattresses, jerrycans, kitchen sets, tarpaulins and solar lamps.
In addition, ICRC said 200 generators and 100 motor pumps purchased locally had been donated to the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) to support relief and rescue operations.
“At a time when humanitarian needs remain high across the country, we hope this shipment will bring some relief to communities enduring the devastating impact of the conflict,” said Mr Vincent Cassard, head of the ICRC delegation in Iran.
“We aim to expand our support in the coming weeks and to continue backing the humanitarian efforts of the IRCS.”
Mr Della Longa highlighted the enormous strain on the Iranian Red Crescent, which he pointed out had “lost four relief workers in the line of duty, while saving lives since the conflict began. This is unacceptable.”
