ANKARA: The Red Cross and Türkiye's Red Crescent on Friday dispatched an emergency humanitarian aid convoy from Türkiye to Iran, as the organisation warned of a 'desperate' humanitarian situation in the country.
"Humanitarian needs in Iran are extremely high", International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) spokesperson Scott Craig said shortly before the convoy departed from the outskirts of Ankara.
The relief effort comes as a two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran looks to be on shaky ground, with both sides accusing the other of failing to respect the agreement.
The conflict has left more than 2,000 people dead over the past five weeks.
"The humanitarian situation in Iran is desperate", Craig said.
"Needs will change according to how the situation evolves. But the needs will remain critical for a very long time. The health system in the country has been destroyed".
He added that large-scale damage to infrastructure had compounded the crisis, with severe psychological and mental health impacts on the population.
The convoy includes around 200 trauma kits containing emergency medical supplies for bombing casualties.
The Turkish Red Crescent has also sent four trucks carrying 48 tonnes of aid, including emergency shelters for displaced families, hygiene kits and first-aid supplies.
The vehicles bear the message "Humanitarian aid from the Turkish people to the brotherly people of Iran", a journalist observed at the scene. — AFP
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