The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has sounded the alarm about a sharp rise in emergency medical needs across Iran and warned that supplies of trauma kits and other essential equipment risk running out if hostilities persist.
According to figures provided by the IFRC - the only humanitarian organization operating countrywide in Iran - more than 1,900 people have been killed and in excess of 21,000 injured since U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iran began on February 28. The agency also reported that three of its own staff members have died while on duty, including one killed during an airstrike on March 31 that struck a medical clinic in Zanjan province. The agency did not assign blame for those deaths.
Situation on the ground
IFRC delegation leadership said the speed at which humanitarian needs are rising is a primary concern, and that current stocks of emergency medical supplies are sufficient for the moment but could be exhausted if the conflict continues. Rising prices for supplies and inadequate funding were cited as factors that could accelerate shortages.
"The needs are exponentially increasing. Resources are not unlimited," the IFRC delegation head said, stressing the urgency of replenishing and sustaining medical stocks. The head also described a pervasive atmosphere of fear among civilians that may deter people from seeking care. "The streets are completely empty ... You can sense the fear, you can sense the uncertainty in people’s eyes," she said in a video interview from Tehran.
Aid operations and capacity
The IFRC reports that it maintains a nationwide presence with 100,000 responders spread across Irans 31 provinces, and that its response assets include helicopters and rescue dogs. Teams are providing first aid to those injured by airstrikes and offering support to internally displaced people. Staff described exhausting, disrupted work conditions: alarms forcing frequent evacuations, repeated power and Internet outages, and manual transcription of documents when systems fail.
One rescue worker who was called in to help clear rubble discovered family members among the deceased he was recovering. Other staff members rotate sleeping at IFRC offices to remain on standby in the event of further bombings. The delegation head recounted interruptions to meetings by alarms, saying evacuation orders can occur "three, four, six times per day."
Logistics and funding constraints
Logistical difficulties have hindered the IFRCs ability to import vital supplies from its Dubai warehouse for weeks. The agency attributed these complications in part to Irans decision to close the Strait of Hormuz in response to U.S.-Israeli strikes, which has worsened the movement of goods. IFRC supply chain director Cecile Terraz said the agency now plans to move supplies overland from Turkey starting on April 7, but cautioned that overland shipments will take weeks to arrive.
Financially, the IFRC indicated the possibility of scaling up its emergency appeal. It has a 40 million Swiss franc emergency request but is currently only 6% funded. The delegation head said increasing international support is essential to protecting civilians and sustaining the emergency response operation. The IFRC also provided an exchange rate reference of $1 equaling 0.7992 Swiss francs.
International context and operational constraints
Hopes for a quick cessation of hostilities dimmed after U.S. President Donald Trump pledged to conduct more aggressive strikes. Washington has described its strikes as being carried out with precision. Israels military has stated it takes measures to reduce harm to civilians during operations. The IFRC declined to place blame for civilian casualties in its public statements while emphasizing its operational challenges and needs.
Outlook
IFRC officials warned that, while immediate emergency stocks remain available, continued fighting combined with rising supply prices and persistent underfunding could create severe shortages of trauma kits and other life-saving medical items. That prospect, coupled with logistical delays caused by regional disruptions, leaves the agency under significant strain in its efforts to reach and treat civilians across Iran.
"Increasing international support is essential to protect civilians and sustain this emergency response operation," the IFRC delegation head said, reiterating the need for more funding and logistical assistance if the response is to continue at current scale.