By Joe Samuel | Individual Giving Manager
Iran shares a 1,000 kilometer border with neighboring Afghanistan, and for the last 40 years it has hosted one of the world’s largest populations of refugees. Some 3 million Afghan refugees fleeing war and chronic poverty in their country have migrated to Iran.
Our primary focus is to support the population of nearly 3 million Afghans through comprehensive case management, and by providing healthcare, education, vocational training, and small business development services.
In response to the arrival of pregnant and new mothers from Afghanistan, Relief International in partnership with UNICEF initiated a nutrition supplement distribution program for children under 2 and pregnant/lactating women. This program addresses the low levels of essential vitamins and minerals in young children and mothers.
During a visit to a Relief International health center in Torbat-e-Jam, Khorasan Razavi Province, we spoke to Afghan woman, Rahimeh, 29, who had used these nutrition supplements during her pregnancy.
Rahimeh came to Iran in 2022 as an expectant mother. She was left with no choice but to come to Iran alone, hopeful that her husband would be able to join her shortly after.
"I could not tolerate the situation in Kabul. We could not leave the house. There was no other solution than to leave. I had nightmares every night. I could not sleep or eat," Rahimeh says.
When he arrived in Iran, Rahimeh's husband started working as a construction worker, earning a steady income. After a while, Rahimeh and her husband managed to move to the Torbat-e-Jam settlement where she consulted the doctor at one of our healthcare clinics.
"I used vitamins and folic acid supplements during my pregnancy and was so satisfied. I could not eat much food during my pregnancy, so the clinic's doctor prescribed supplements for me. After taking these supplements, I felt better and my blood pressure returned to normal," Rahimeh says.
Rahimeh welcomed her new arrival, Akbar, who was born two weeks premature. Concerned by his low weight, the doctor prescribed nutrition supplements for him.
When we caught up with Rahimeh four months later, Akbar was healthy and sleeping in his mother’s arms.
Together, Relief International and UNICEF have distributed nutrition supplements to children under 2 and pregnant women across more than fifteen health centers in seven provinces, benefiting a total of 5,700 individuals.
Without generous donors like you, we would not be able to support women like Rahimeh. Thank you!
* All names in this story have been changed to protect the identity of individuals.
By Shamecca Bryant | Philanthropy Director
By James Darnbrook | Senior Communications Officer
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