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Asia

Iran

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FRAGILITY RANKING

39th out of 180 countries


Overview

Home to one one the oldest civilizations on earth, Iran’s turquoise-domed mosques, remarkable geologic formations, and ancient forests make this country in the south-west corner of Asia one of the world’s most picturesque. Yet, due to its location, Iran is also one of the ten most disaster-prone countries in the world.

Frequent serious earthquakes, floods, droughts, landslides, and major storms take a heavy toll on the country’s infrastructure and rural population. Earthquakes alone have killed more than 180,000 people during the last century, and the frequency of seismic activity has sharply increased over the past few years. Of the 40 different observable types of natural disasters, 31 have been identified in Iran.

The country also shares a 1,000 kilometer border with neighboring Afghanistan, and for the last 40 years Iran has hosted one of the world’s largest populations of refugees. Some 3 million Afghan refugees fleeing war and chronic poverty in their country have migrated to Iran.

Our primary focus is to support the population of nearly 3 million Afghans through comprehensive case management, and by providing healthcare, education, vocational training, and small business development services.

When natural disasters or other emergencies occur, Relief International mobilizes its resources to support response and reconstruction. We are a lead actor responding to the country’s Coronavirus outbreak, and Iran’s most recent natural disasters: a 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Kermanshah in 2017, and country-wide floods in 2019 which affected 26 of the Iran’s 31 provinces, and set the development of agricultural regions back decades.

“The impact of the coronavirus pandemic is enormous; health professionals are working almost nonstop. They need all our support,” shares Relief International’s Regional Director for Asia and Africa, Valerie Rowles.


Our 2022 Impact in Iran
49
schools supported or rehabilitated by Relief International
29K
students benefitting from rehabilitated school facilities
1K
households receiving multi-purpose cash assistance to help cope with the economic fallout of COVID-19

Stories From Iran

Learn more about our work in Iran from our staff and the people we serve.

Iran

Unlocking Potential Through Remedial Education in Iran

After 9 months of our remedial education program in Iran, Relief International have supported over 1,500 children to successfully complete their grades, paving the way for further educational opportunities and ultimately creating healthier, more resilient communities. 

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Iran

Supporting Afghan Refugees Through Nutrition Programs in Iran

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Iran

A haven of hope: the role of a Multipurpose Service Centre for refugee women and children in Iran

“I am happy when I’m at the Centre. I make new friends, play with them, and learn to read from my teachers,” says Zahra, one of the children participating in Golestan Centre’s activities.

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Iran

Shaping a Bright Future: Ehsan’s Educational Journey

Eleven-year-old Ehsan attending RI Remedial Classes in April 2023

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Iran

Iran: Mansour is sewing and stitching his way out of poverty and debt

After the COVID-19 pandemic, Mansour lost his business and went deep into debt trying to provide for his family.

Relief International was there to help, providing Mansour with tailoring equipment and raw materials. Now he’s back on his feet – debt free, and doing what he loves.

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Iran

Afghan families arriving in Iran

With increasing numbers of Afghan refugees crossing the border into Iran, Relief International – one of the few international non-profits working in the country – is working to support families and individuals during this crisis.

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Iran

One refugee, a tablet, and a new way to learn from home during COVID-19

Ali Hosseini was in the 11th grade when the COVID-19 pandemic forced his school in Iran to close as a means to protect students from the virus. Now, Ali is able to stay on top of his studies at home after receiving a tablet device provided by Relief International.

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Iran

Six Months In: An Exclusive Look into Relief International’s Response to COVID-19 in Iran

Six months after the first case of the novel coronavirus was confirmed in Iran, the country is experiencing a resurgence of new infections. Here, Relief International’s Iran Country Director shares how his team on the ground has been working nonstop to protect health workers, refugee families, and our staff against the virus.

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Iran

VIDEO: In Iran, A Refugee Shares How She’s Making a Difference Against COVID-19

While COVID-19 may be on the decline in some countries that were hit hard early on, the number of new cases is on the rise in Iran. As Iran experiences a resurgence of new cases, one Afghan refugee shares her story, and why she’s committed to fighting the virus in the country that welcomed her.

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Iran

Iran’s Fight Against the Coronavirus

Iran is poised to become the new epicenter of the coronavirus. Relief International is one of only two international nonprofit organizations authorized by OFAC and the Iranian authorities to operate in Iran, responding to humanitarian crises like the coronavirus outbreak.

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Iran

Unlocking Potential Through Remedial Education in Iran

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Iran

Supporting Afghan Refugees Through Nutrition Programs in Iran

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Iran

A haven of hope: the role of a Multipurpose Service Centre for refugee women and children in Iran

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Iran

Shaping a Bright Future: Ehsan’s Educational Journey

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Iran

Iran: Mansour is sewing and stitching his way out of poverty and debt

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Iran

Afghan families arriving in Iran

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Iran

One refugee, a tablet, and a new way to learn from home during COVID-19

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Iran

Six Months In: An Exclusive Look into Relief International’s Response to COVID-19 in Iran

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Iran

VIDEO: In Iran, A Refugee Shares How She’s Making a Difference Against COVID-19

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Iran

Iran’s Fight Against the Coronavirus

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Unlocking Potential Through Remedial Education in Iran

1.jpg

Supporting Afghan Refugees Through Nutrition Programs in Iran

Golestan-Centre-5.jpg

A haven of hope: the role of a Multipurpose Service Centre for refugee women and children in Iran

ehsan4.jpg

Shaping a Bright Future: Ehsan’s Educational Journey

pica.jpg

Iran: Mansour is sewing and stitching his way out of poverty and debt

Volunteer-making-food-baskets.jpg

Afghan families arriving in Iran

hero-irantablets-covid19-12242020.jpg

One refugee, a tablet, and a new way to learn from home during COVID-19

iran-covid-update-distribution2.jpg

Six Months In: An Exclusive Look into Relief International’s Response to COVID-19 in Iran

iran-covid-update-ppe-production.jpg

VIDEO: In Iran, A Refugee Shares How She’s Making a Difference Against COVID-19

iran-coronavirus-hero-02272020.jpg

Iran’s Fight Against the Coronavirus

1990 Earthquake in Northern Persia (Iran) - Photo by M. Mehrain. Dames and Moore (National Geophysical Data Center, United States)
Timeline

1990

Relief International is founded by a group of concerned individuals in Los Angeles to respond to the Manjil– Rudbar earthquake in Iran, the country’s worst natural disaster on record that killed over 50,000 people. The group sends blankets, food, and other relief supplies to affected communities.

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Timeline

2001

Flash flooding in Golestan Province, in northern Iran, leaves more than 200 people dead. Relief International provides emergency assistance to the flood-affected population in the area.

Relief International reconstructs and equips a demolished school in Avanak village. RI
Timeline

2002

After Bou’in-Zahra earthquake strikes with the magnitude of 6.5, Relief International reconstructs and equips a demolished school in Avanak village.

Relief International at work in Bam following 6.6 earthquake. RI
Timeline

2003

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake hits the city of Bam and destroys 70% of its residential areas. Relief International reconstructs 850 houses, a library, a bakery, and a computer center. We establish women self-help groups and set up micro loan pools in PoshtRud and Esfikan villages, reinvigorate livelihood opportunities.

Timeline

2007

Relief International starts to provides microloans to vulnerable Iranians in eight villages.

Relief International programs support Afghan refugees in Iran. RI
Timeline

2008

Relief International begins programming to support Afghan refugees, 3 million of whom have fled war and violence seeking refuge in neighboring Iran. Our first programs are supported by the European Union and focus on education, vocational training, and provision of necessary tools to gain employment in local markets.

Relief International in Iran
Timeline

2010

Relief International provided assistance to the Afghan refugee out-of-school children together with our local NGO partner, HAMI. This project is implemented in one center in Mashhad and two centers in Tehran.

Relief International in Iran
Timeline

2012

Relief International implements technical vocation skills training in partnership with TVTO in Kerman for Afghan refugees. We then distribute tool kits among top graduates.

Timeline

2015

We launch new cash assistance programs for Afghan refugees in Razavi Khorasan and Yazd provinces.

Relief International in Iran
Timeline

2016

Relief International becomes the first international organization to be granted permission to begin activities targeting vulnerable families – both Afghan and Iranian — in Sistan Baluchestan. We launch our programs that offer small business trainings and loans to participants who wish to start enterprises.

Relief International in Iran
Timeline

2017

A magnitude 7.3 earthquake strikes Kermanshah, a province on the Iran-Iraq border. Relief International supplemented government and Red Crescent efforts by distributing mattresses, dust mask and supplies to the newly homeless. We continue to aid in reconstruction to the present day, and to date have rebuilt more than two dozen schools in the earthquake zone.

Relief International in Iran
Timeline

2019

Weeks of heavy rains during the Norwuz holiday turns into catastrophic floods. Relief International is the first international nonprofit on the ground to respond by providing emergency supplies like hygiene kits, and providing unconditional cash transfers of $120 per family to those whose homes, schools, farmlands and livestock were washed away by the floods.

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1990
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2001
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2002
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2003
2007
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2008
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2010
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2012
2015
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2016
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2017
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2019
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Featured Project

Rebuilding Schools Damaged by the 2017 Iran Earthquake

With the generous support of Google and its employees, Relief International teams began to reconstruct two schools in the villages of Qabqoli and Bibiyani in Kermanshah, which were levelled by the quake.

Donate to Relief International

Make a difference today

With a gift to Relief International, you can help deliver safe drinking water. You can help provide healthcare to displaced families, far from home. You can help ensure girls and boys alike receive an education, which in turn creates paths towards employment. This all starts with you.

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Bangladesh. Rachel Elkind/RI