Volunteers affiliated with the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) have delivered a broad array of services across the first three months of the current Iranian calendar year, which began on March 21. During this period, approximately 275,381 new volunteers joined the organization, pushing the total volunteer count to over 1.8 million, according to Mohammad-Javad Ezzati, an IRCS official.

In these initial months, more than 152,400 volunteers took part in various programs, collectively providing support to over 1.65 million individuals. Among these efforts, 481 volunteer medical teams contributed upwards of 75,000 hours, delivering health services to 94,358 people in underserved areas. The teams also distributed nearly 9,900 food packages to those in need.

The IRCS saw collaboration involving 4,544 volunteers who conducted 1,098 projects, benefiting around 90,000 recipients with financial support from donors amounting to roughly 514 billion rials (about $268,000). Additionally, 3,348 volunteers worked with 218 nongovernmental organizations on 369 joint initiatives, providing assistance to nearly 94,500 people. Public contributions for these projects exceeded 586 billion rials, or close to $300,000.

Throughout the same timeframe, IRCS volunteers undertook 13,103 distinct activities, involving 90,493 individuals and accumulating over 1.23 million volunteer hours. These efforts reached nearly one million beneficiaries. In support of these programs, the organization set up more than 11,200 tents and health stations, with corresponding public contributions amounting to over 3.3 trillion rials (approaching $170,000).

Volunteers also extended care to elderly and vulnerable populations, with 9,504 individuals logging more than 30,000 hours each to visit 704 centers and homes for 5,603 elderly and needy persons. This support ultimately assisted more than 20,500 people and was backed by donations exceeding 128 billion rials (approximately $65,000).

Blood donation remains a vital component of the IRCS’s activities, with 28,712 volunteers donating 31,642 units of blood during the period, significantly contributing to blood reserves. Medical equipment lending also played a role, as 593 volunteers facilitated the provision of 6,179 items to 3,047 patients. Furthermore, 3,744 beneficiaries received financial assistance totaling nearly 274 billion rials (around $140,000).

In recent years, the IRCS has placed strong emphasis not only on immediate relief but also on cultivating a generation prepared to respond effectively in times of crisis. This strategy includes educating youth starting from the school level, where nearly 350,000 students across 9,000 schools have undergone first aid and social responsibility training under the “Skilled Trainer” program. The curriculum prioritizes practical skills such as recognizing dangerous situations and adopting appropriate responses to accidents.

Currently, out of the more than 4.9 million IRCS volunteers, approximately 3.25 million are under the age of 35. Many of these young volunteers actively participate alongside relief and rescue teams, while others engage in educational, social, and cultural initiatives that foster community responsibility. The IRCS also offers psychological support programs aimed at providing spiritual and social aid during crises.

These comprehensive efforts illustrate the IRCS’s dual focus on immediate humanitarian assistance and long-term community preparedness by empowering young volunteers and embedding relief skills from an early age.