Story
01 August 2026
IOM Hands Over Vaccine Transport Trucks to Strengthen Immunization Services Across Southern Iran
Tehran, 29 July 2026 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) handed over two specialized vaccine transport trucks to health authorities in the Islamic Republic of Iran, helping strengthen the safe and timely delivery of vaccines to migrants and host communities across southern and southwestern parts of the country.
The support was provided in response to a request from the Center for Management of Communicable Diseases of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education and was channeled through IOM Iran’s principal government counterpart, the Center for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs (CAFIA) of the Ministry of Interior.
The handover comes at a time when heightened tensions across the Middle East continue to affect civilian populations, infrastructure and essential services. The United Nations has repeatedly called for restraint, protection of civilian infrastructure, and renewed diplomatic efforts to prevent further humanitarian consequences across the region.
Each refrigerated vehicle has a carrying capacity of six tonnes and is specifically designed for the transportation and distribution of vaccines. Equipped with a dual-mode operating system and specialized cold-chain equipment, the trucks will help preserve vaccine integrity and strengthen delivery to health facilities across the country.
“Access to health services, including routine immunization, remains essential for the health and well-being of communities,” said Salvador Gutierrez, IOM Iran Chief of Mission. “By strengthening vaccine distribution networks, this support will help ensure that vital vaccines reach people safely and efficiently, including those living in remote and underserved areas.”
The two vaccine trucks designed for bulk vaccine transportation, procured by IOM for the Ministry of Health will be deployed to regional distribution hubs in Khuzestan and Fars provinces, strengthening Iran’s national vaccine cold chain system. Through these centers, vaccines and biological products will be distributed to health facilities serving the population covered by the Universities of Medical Sciences in Shiraz, Fasa, Jahrom, Gerash, Larestan, Ahvaz, Shushtar, Abadan, Behbahan, and Dezful.
The initiative is intended to benefit both migrants and host communities in urban and rural areas, particularly vulnerable groups with limited access to health services. By reinforcing vaccine distribution capacity, the intervention will contribute to improved access to immunization services and enhanced vaccination coverage in communities served by the two hubs.
Iran hosts one of the largest migrant populations in the region, including millions of Afghans who rely on public services alongside host communities. Maintaining resilient health systems and reliable vaccine distribution remains especially important as regional instability continues to place pressure on infrastructure, mobility and essential services.
International concern over further escalation in the Middle East remains high. The United Nations Secretary-General has renewed calls for restraint, protection of civilian infrastructure, restoration of navigational freedoms, and renewed diplomatic engagement.
The new vehicles will help strengthen those distribution networks, supporting continued access to essential immunization services for both migrants and host communities while reinforcing the capacity of local health systems to reach remote and hard-to-reach populations. The intervention was made possible through funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy. For more information please contact Medha DESHPANDE at mdeshpande@iom.int.
The support was provided in response to a request from the Center for Management of Communicable Diseases of the Ministry of Health and Medical Education and was channeled through IOM Iran’s principal government counterpart, the Center for Aliens and Foreign Immigrants Affairs (CAFIA) of the Ministry of Interior.
The handover comes at a time when heightened tensions across the Middle East continue to affect civilian populations, infrastructure and essential services. The United Nations has repeatedly called for restraint, protection of civilian infrastructure, and renewed diplomatic efforts to prevent further humanitarian consequences across the region.
Each refrigerated vehicle has a carrying capacity of six tonnes and is specifically designed for the transportation and distribution of vaccines. Equipped with a dual-mode operating system and specialized cold-chain equipment, the trucks will help preserve vaccine integrity and strengthen delivery to health facilities across the country.
“Access to health services, including routine immunization, remains essential for the health and well-being of communities,” said Salvador Gutierrez, IOM Iran Chief of Mission. “By strengthening vaccine distribution networks, this support will help ensure that vital vaccines reach people safely and efficiently, including those living in remote and underserved areas.”
The two vaccine trucks designed for bulk vaccine transportation, procured by IOM for the Ministry of Health will be deployed to regional distribution hubs in Khuzestan and Fars provinces, strengthening Iran’s national vaccine cold chain system. Through these centers, vaccines and biological products will be distributed to health facilities serving the population covered by the Universities of Medical Sciences in Shiraz, Fasa, Jahrom, Gerash, Larestan, Ahvaz, Shushtar, Abadan, Behbahan, and Dezful.
The initiative is intended to benefit both migrants and host communities in urban and rural areas, particularly vulnerable groups with limited access to health services. By reinforcing vaccine distribution capacity, the intervention will contribute to improved access to immunization services and enhanced vaccination coverage in communities served by the two hubs.
Iran hosts one of the largest migrant populations in the region, including millions of Afghans who rely on public services alongside host communities. Maintaining resilient health systems and reliable vaccine distribution remains especially important as regional instability continues to place pressure on infrastructure, mobility and essential services.
International concern over further escalation in the Middle East remains high. The United Nations Secretary-General has renewed calls for restraint, protection of civilian infrastructure, restoration of navigational freedoms, and renewed diplomatic engagement.
The new vehicles will help strengthen those distribution networks, supporting continued access to essential immunization services for both migrants and host communities while reinforcing the capacity of local health systems to reach remote and hard-to-reach populations. The intervention was made possible through funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy. For more information please contact Medha DESHPANDE at mdeshpande@iom.int.
