By Abdullahi Lukman
The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has announced its readiness to provide humanitarian aid to those affected by floods and storms in the Dominican Republic and Jamaica.
IRCS head Pir-Hossein Kolivand expressed condolences to victims’ families and assured both countries of support.
In messages to the presidents of the Dominican and Jamaican Red Cross, he emphasized the organization’s preparedness to send relief consignments.
In the Dominican Republic, Tropical Storm Melissa has caused heavy, persistent rainfall, strong winds, and landslides, particularly in southern and southwestern regions.
The floods have damaged 263 homes, displaced over 1,380 people, and left 37 communities isolated due to blocked access routes.
More than 1.27 million water users have been affected by the failure of over 60 water systems, disrupting essential Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) services.
Schools nationwide have been closed since October 23, affecting nearly 2.6 million children. Health authorities are monitoring for waterborne and vector-borne disease outbreaks while maintaining emergency services.
In Jamaica, Hurricane Melissa made landfall on October 28 as a Category 5 storm, causing severe flooding, infrastructure damage, and island-wide power outages.
UNICEF estimates that over 695,000 people, including 222,000 children, have been impacted in the Dominican Republic.
Governments in both countries, with support from civil defense and public works authorities, continue rescue operations, debris removal, and public information campaigns.
Kolivand reiterated IRCS’s commitment to delivering aid and relief items to both nations to support ongoing humanitarian efforts.