Iran sues US over prevention of aid flow to flood victims

Iranian Vice President for Legal Affairs said the country is legally pursuing the United States’ move to block the flow of cash aid to flood victims in the Islamic Republic.

Iran Press/Iran news: Laya Joneydi said Iran has filed a lawsuit at the International Court of Justice regarding the case.

The lawsuit was filed after the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society confirmed it has not been able to receive any cash aid to help flood victims, IFP News reported.

Joneydi stressed this reflects a major US misconduct, especially in the area of human rights and humanitarian law.

“Under the interim order of the International Court of Justice Washington cannot hamper issues related to food, medicine, medical equipment, agricultural items, aircraft parts and services, and all related banking operations,” she told IRIB News Agency.

Joneydi added that in addition to violating international law, the US action has also clearly violated the interim order of the International Court of Justice, and for each of them, necessary measures have been taken.

Aid workers in Iran say US sanctions are hampering their ability to help people affected by massive flooding.

Relentless rain and flooding throughout Iran has left some 2 million people facing a humanitarian crisis. 25 of 31 Iranian provinces have been affected, and over 76 people have lost their lives.

On Apr 03, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani strongly criticized the United States for blocking international aid to the flood-stricken people of Iran, describing America's behavior as criminal, chiding the US for 'an unprecedented crime'.

The United States has frozen the accounts of the Iranian Red Crescent Society as part of its cruel sanctions against the Iranian people, thus preventing other countries from sending humanitarian aid to people in Iran’s flood-stricken regions.

Iran has announced a state of emergency in several provinces threatened by flooding and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate their homes in the affected provinces, where dozens of villages have been evacuated already. 

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Blocking aid to flood-hit people, an unprecedented crime: Iran