The EU is allocating €100,000 to provide emergency humanitarian assistance to families affected by the earthquake that struck Iran in early October. The aid will benefit over 11,000 people in the worst hit areas of West Azerbaijan province in the country’s northwest.

The EU funding supports the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRC) in delivering immediate assistance through the distribution of vital relief items, food parcels and emergency shelter materials, such as tents, blankets and ground mats.

Particular attention will be paid to those most in need, especially people whose homes that were destroyed or severely damaged in the aftermath of the strong tremor.

The funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Over 1,000 people sustained injuries when a 5.4 magnitude earthquake hit near Khoy city in West Azerbaijan province. Followed by more than 40 aftershocks, the tremor caused substantial damage to many homes, buildings and infrastructure, affecting more than over 11,000 people in the region.

Source: European Commission’s Directorate-General for European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations