8,000 IRCS Volunteers Mobilized to Serve Arbaeen Pilgrims in Iraq

8,000 IRCS Volunteers Mobilized to Serve Arbaeen Pilgrims in Iraq
———————————–
In preparation for the ongoing holy Arbaeen pilgrimage, the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has mobilized approximately 8,000 volunteers to serve millions of Shia pilgrims en route to Holy Karbala, Iqna.ir reported. According to IRCS Secretary-General Meisam Afshar, the organization has also arranged for 23 helicopters, one aircraft, and 58 affiliated clinics and hospitals, alongside 150 emergency vehicles, to ensure comprehensive medical support free of charge.

Earlier, the Iraqi Red Crescent Society (IRCS‑Iraq) revealed its own deployment plan, assigning more than 2,000 paramedics across fixed and mobile medical detachments on routes from Basra, Baghdad, Diwaniyah, Babylon, Najaf, and other governorates leading to Karbala. These teams are supported by 26 ambulances and mobile clinics to provide first aid, transport emergency cases, and conduct health awareness and sanitation services.

The Arbaeen pilgrimage, commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (peace be upon him), is the world’s largest annual religious gathering—expected to attract over 30 million pilgrims this year. Service hubs, known as moukebs, numbering over 13,000, have also been established across pilgrimage routes offering free meals, rest stops, and medical care.

This dual-national mobilization highlights a growing trend: mass volunteer-based humanitarian support during religious pilgrimages. With both Iranian and Iraqi Red Crescent societies coordinating relief efforts, organizers are prioritizing emergency preparedness, free medical access, and logistical cohesion to support the historic influx of pilgrims.