A terrible series of flash floods  have hit numerous provinces of Iran, causing devastation and destruction. Floodwaters deluge Iran after a 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 yearly. The extreme precipitation has caused 14 main rivers to flood. If the Bostan, Golestan, and Normbang dams had not held some of the precipitation back, the city of Gonbad-e-Kavu would have been completely wiped out. Currently, these dams have overflowed, and the city of Gonbad-e-Kavus and the surrounding villages are under water, and the situation has become complicated due to the Nowruz holidays.

Due to heavy rains, Shiraz was met with flash floods on March 25th. There are reports of heavy rainfall or snow in Kermansh ah, 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 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 is in the billions of dollars, making this one of Iran’s costliest natural disasters. 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 particular account to help those affected by the flash floods. Child Foundation is one of only a handful of organizations 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 provide relief most effectively. 

We invite 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.

Donate