UN deputy chief hails Iran’s humanitarian aid efforts

United Nations Undersecretary General for Humanitarian Affairs Valery Amos in a meeting with Iranian Deputy Interior Minister Hassan Qaddami lauded the Islamic Republic's aid and assistance to the UN humanitarian efforts around the world. “Iran’s contribution to humanitarian affairs and its relief aids to the deprived and less developed countries indicate the prevalence of a spirit of charity and love for other humans among Iranians,” Amos said here in Tehran on Saturday. She reiterated that Iran is the UN’s major partner in providing humanitarian aid worldwide. Amos arrived in Tehran on Friday to hold talks with senior Iranian officials. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's Deputy Spokesman Farhan Haq said that Mrs. Amos’s visit would last until September 16. “Mrs. Amos is expected to meet senior officials in Tehran. She will focus on expanding regional cooperation on humanitarian assistance and enhancing the partnership between Iran and the Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),” he noted. Earlier today, Amos met with Head of Iran's Red Crescent Society Mohammad Farhadi, where the Iranian official announced Tehran's readiness to set up the UN's logistical support base in the country to help the neighboring states. Farhadi made the remarks in response to Amos's demand from Iran to set up a base to transfer humanitarian aids to the war-torn and crisis-hit neighboring countries. He announced Iran's preparedness to set up the base, and said, "The arrangements for setting up the base have been made since long time ago and the operational phase has just remained to be accomplished that we hope to start as soon as possible."