Turkish President Honors Head of IRCS for Earthquake Relief Efforts
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - The head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), Pir-Hossein Koulivand, has been awarded a "Badge of Sacrifice" by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for the organization's relief efforts during the devastating earthquake that hit Turkey and Syria in February.
The ceremony, attended by Mohammad Farazmand, Iran's ambassador to Ankara, took place on Tuesday.
Expressing gratitude to the IRCS, Erdogan praised the organization's "expeditious and proper" relief and rescue efforts during the natural disaster, according to a tweet from the IRCS.
The 7.8-magnitude earthquake occurred on February 6, resulting in a combined death toll of over 50,000 in Turkey and Syria, with the majority of fatalities occurring in Turkey. The IRCS responded to the crisis by sending several shipments of aid to the affected areas, including at least three shipments to Turkey alone.
In a separate event, President Erdogan announced that 55,000 local and foreign individuals who symbolize the struggle against the earthquake will be presented with the State Medal and Order of Outstanding Sacrifice. The Iranian rescue team was one of the teams that received the medal.
Noting that the Iranian aid workers have played a selfless role in providing aid to foreign victims in various countries, including Turkey, Syria, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, Koulivand credited the swift response of the IRCS to the order of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei to provide relief to earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria, as it was also providing relief to victims in the city of Khoy in Iran’s West Azarbaijan province.