A terrible series of flash floods have hit numerous provinces of Iran, causing devastation and destruction. Floodwaters deluge Iran after profuse amount of rain has turned roads into rivers. This has triggered several devastating flash floods in dozens of cities and hundreds of villages in 28 out of 31 provinces of Iran. Tens of thousands of people are seeking shelter in safer areas.

Precipitation in some areas reached 315 mm, while the average rainfall under normal conditions is 450 mm per year. The extreme precipitation has caused 14 main rivers to flood. If the dams of Bostan, Golestan and Normbang had not held some of the precipitation back, the city of Gonbad-e-Kavu would have been completely wiped out. Currently, these dams have overflown and the city of Gonbad-e-Kavus and the surrounding villages are under water and the situation had become complicated due to Nowruz holidays.

Due to heavy rains, the city of Shiraz was met with flash floods on March 25th. There are reports of heavy rainfall or snow in Kermanshah, Qom, Alborz, Khuzestan, Hamedan, and Qazvin. Numerous bridges are underwater and many major routes to rural areas are no longer safe or accessible. According to reports by the Associated Press and The Tehran Times, some 56,000 people have been affected just in the Northern provinces. The agriculture sector in the provinces of Golestan and Mazandaran has seen losses of nearly $260 million and $132 million, respectively.

The estimated damage to roads, schools, farms, and livestock are in the billions of dollars, which makes this one of Iran’s costliest natural disasters to date. Electricity and telecommunications have been cut off in many affected regions, making the situation even more dire. According to UNICEF, nearly 1 million children have been affected by the flooding. 

Over 1,000 health facilities and 1,000 schools have been destroyed or severely damaged forcing 100,000 children out of school and depriving thousands of essential healthcare.

Child Foundation has created a special account to help those affected by the flash floods. Child Foundation is one of only a handful of organizations that is legally allowed to send humanitarian aid to Iran. We are working with staff on the ground to assess how best to provide aid, including in the long-term. There are many reports of destroyed roadways, schools, and homes, and we want to make sure to provide relief in the most effective way possible. 

We are inviting you in these days that coincide with Nowruz and happiness to think about tens of thousands of people who had to leave their homes and belongings to seek shelter. Help with your generous contributions to help children in need.

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