February 2018, Tehran- Azadeh Darouzmi is sitting on a chair in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) of Mahdiyeh Hospital in Tehran, dressed in a sanitary dress and holding Aisu close to provide skin-to-skin contact. This is part of Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) provided to babies in the NICU of this hospital where quality medical care for preterm babies is available. The 23-year-old mother gave birth to her twin girls, Aisu and Aynaz, in mid-January 2018 when they were only 28 weeks old.

On 29 November 2017, UNESCO Tehran Cluster Office supported the International Institute of Earthquake Engineering and Seismology (IIEES) in conducting the 19th national earthquake and safety drill which simultaneously took place in all schools across Iran.By simulating earthquake situations in schools and their communities, the initiative aims to strengthen disaster risk reduction awareness and preparedness in the country.

The GARD opening ceremony was officially inaugurated on 25 November at Mehrabad International Airport

Iran is among the top 10 disaster prone countries in the world. It is confronted with more than 34 out of 41 types of the world’s known natural disasters.

When a disaster strikes, providing support to those in need depends on good communications and logistics.

Airports are central to the relief effort.

(Tehran, 23 November 2017): Yesterday, the United Nations Under-Secretary-General (USG) for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (ERC) Mark Lowcock concluded a two-day visit to the Islamic Republic of Iran, where he met with senior officials to discuss regional and global humanitarian crises, and also conveyed his condolences to the Government and Iranian people for the loss of life caused by the devastating earthquake that hit Kermanshah on 12 November.

Remember those movies where an international epidemic breaks out and the international community “surges” a medical response team instantly to solve the problem?

Well, as we know from hard experience, including the recent Ebola pandemic in West Africa, this rarely occurs in real life.

In reality, responses to epidemics and disasters are often too slow, usually uncoordinated, and do not deliver the response to the places in greatest need.