Coinciding with the celebration of Nowruz (Iranian New Year), presents from Iranian benefactors were given to Tajikistan children affected by cancer in a ceremony held at the central hospital of oncology in Dushanbe, capital of Tajikistan.
The ceremony was scheduled by Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation (IKRF) in collaboration with a charity organization (Nest) in Tajikistan, and Iran cultural attaché there, according to a report by Islamic Culture and Relations Organization (ICRO) of Iran,
The event was attended by authorities including: an official in ICRO Shahrouz Falahatpisheh, Iran embassy representative Hadi Alipour, IKRF representative in Tajikistan Mehdi Ebadi, Iran cultural attaché Mehrdad Parsa, and Iranians residing in Tajikistan.
“Cash and non-cash contributions by Iranian residents collected by IKRF in a celebration previously held at an educational complex - Imam Jafar Sadiq (AS) - in Tajikistan, were donated in the form of medications and other items to the Tajik children whose need was approved by the foundation,” said Ebadi, adding that some Iranian merchants residing in Tajikistan intend to undertake the cost of providing these children with the necessary drugs.
Head of the hospital Zafar Habibullahov welcomed attendants and acknowledged the humanitarian gesture by Iranians, saying: “We take this charitable gesture at the beginning of the New Year as a good omen.”
At the beginning of the ceremony, some pieces of music were played by an Iranian group to create joyous atmosphere for ill children and their families, and the presents were donated afterwards. At the end, the officials visited different sectors of the hospital.
Founded in 1979 as a charity organization to provide support for poor families, IKRF is supported by the Iranian government and aims to help such families regain financial stability.
IKRF has also provided support to regions outside of Iran, including Pakistan, Somalia, Afghanistan, Palestine, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Republic of Kosovo, Chechnya, Comoros, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Syria, and Lebanon.
