The Iranian Red Crescent Society said attacks by the United States and Israel have struck a wide range of civilian infrastructure across the country, including homes, schools and health facilities.
In an exclusive interview with China's Phoenix TV on Sunday, Razieh Alishvandi, vice president for International Affairs and Humanitarian Law of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, condemned the U.S. and Israel for what she described as severe violations of international humanitarian law, as the death toll from their joint military strikes against Iran continues to climb.
According to Arshvandi, more than 46,000 civilian structures have been under attack. The housing sector has been hit particularly hard, with approximately 29,000 residential units damaged outside of the capital Tehran. Within Tehran, 10,000 housing units have been affected. In addition, 6,851 commercial units have been damaged or destroyed.
The healthcare system has sustained significant blows, with 236 pharmaceutical, medical, and emergency centers impacted. The education sector has not been spared as 120 schools and educational facilities were reportedly damaged.
The Iranian Red Crescent Society itself has suffered losses, with 17 of its facilities damaged. A rescue helicopter was completely destroyed, and 35 rescue vehicles, ambulances, and operational vehicles were damaged in the attacks. The humanitarian organization has also paid a heavy price in personnel, with 10 staff members injured and one confirmed dead.
Arshvandi provided grim statistics on civilian casualties, highlighting the impact on critical sectors of society. In the education sector, 206 people have been killed and 154 others injured. The medical community has also suffered, with 16 people killed and 96 others wounded.
"The Red Crescent Society collects documents of international humanitarian law violations on a daily basis and sends them to international institutions and international forums. Individuals and civilian targets should not be targeted in conflicts. Children, students, the elderly and residential units should not be targeted. But unfortunately, these statistics that I mentioned to you were targeted and a large number of civilians were martyred," she said.
In addition to casualties and infrastructure damage, Arishvandi said the ongoing conflict is also increasing pressure on ordinary people in terms of healthcare, mental health, and daily life. She called on the international community to increase humanitarian aid to Iran.
"We are ready to receive humanitarian aid, medicines, medical items and equipment that are scarce or low in supply in our country to relieve the people who have been harmed and affected, and we announce our readiness to receive humanitarian aid that any country wants to provide," she said.
On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior military commanders, and civilians. Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases and assets across the Middle East.
U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran destroy 46,000 civilian targets: Red Crescent
