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Public donations up 400% in Ramadan War; nationwide health plans underway
The head of Iran's State Welfare Organization announced that public donations to the agency rose by 400% during the 40-day Ramadan War, defying what was described as normal wartime patterns.
Speaking at a news conference marking the 46th anniversary of the State Welfare Organization on Monday, Javad Hosseini said the organization received 1.75 trillion tomans in cash and non-cash donations during the US-Israeli war of aggression despite expectations that charitable giving would decline because of economic uncertainty and public anxiety.
"In almost every war, public participation in charitable and voluntary activities falls as people become more concerned about their own financial and personal security," Hosseini said. "During the Ramadan War, however, contributions not only failed to decline but increased significantly."
He said the increase represented a sharp break from established wartime patterns observed internationally.
"Based on previous experiences of wars around the world, such participation would normally have declined substantially," he said. "Instead, public support increased by 400%, reflecting the solidarity and social cohesion of the Iranian people under difficult circumstances."
Hosseini did not provide comparative figures for donations before the conflict but said the total value of contributions collected over the 40-day period reached 1.75 trillion tomans.
Beyond the physical destruction associated with armed conflict, Hosseini said authorities were particularly concerned about the long-term psychological and social consequences, warning that untreated trauma could place a heavy burden on individuals and public services.
"The visible effects of war, including casualties and damage to infrastructure, industry and employment, are easier to identify," he said. "But one of the most significant consequences is psychological and social trauma, which often continues long after military operations have ended."
He said research suggested psychological disorders become increasingly difficult and costly to treat if they are not identified during the first five to six months after a conflict.
"If these psychological injuries are not detected and treated during the early months, they become chronic," Hosseini said. "That increases treatment costs, psychological burdens and social problems."
To assess the impact of the conflict, the State Welfare Organization launched two nationwide surveys shortly after the fighting began.
One survey focused exclusively on older adults, while the second covered other vulnerable groups, including children, adolescents, people with disabilities, women heading households and people living with mental health conditions.
According to Hosseini, emotional and psychological problems emerged as the most common challenges among elderly respondents, outweighing economic concerns.
He said more than half of older adults surveyed reported experiencing anxiety related to the conflict.
The findings also showed that 87% reported a significant decline in their sense of security in their place of residence, while approximately 70% experienced severe anxiety.
Between 37% and 47% also reported poorer sleep quality, he said, describing emotional distress as the dominant consequence for older citizens.
The second survey found similarly high levels of psychological strain among other vulnerable groups.
"About 70% of participants experienced anxiety during and after the war," Hosseini said, adding that the proportion was even higher among women heading households.
Around half of respondents also reported initial psychological trauma and a reduced sense of personal security, underscoring what he described as the need for rapid intervention.
The organization also conducted a separate nationwide psychological screening program, known as "Rasad-e Ravan" (mental monitoring), between June 1 and June 15.
Officials had initially expected participation of between 10,000 and 12,000 people.
Instead, more than 435,000 people completed the screening, making it one of the largest mental health assessments carried out by the organization, Hosseini said.
Women accounted for 56% of participants, while men represented 44%.
The largest occupational group consisted of self-employed individuals, representing 24% of respondents. Participants holding high school diplomas made up 29% of those surveyed, while people aged 18 to 25 accounted for 17%. Married individuals represented 63% of participants.
Geographically, the highest participation rates came from the provinces of Fars, Tehran, Gilan, Hamadan and South Khorasan, according to the organization.
The screening found that around one in five participants showed signs of severe psychological trauma. "Twenty percent of participants were diagnosed with severe trauma," Hosseini said.
He added that between 10% and 11% of respondents had themselves requested specialized counselling or mental health services from the State Welfare Organization.
To respond to such needs, the organization has coordinated a network of public institutions to provide professional intervention and treatment.
Hosseini said services would be delivered through approximately 3,500 welfare counselling centers, alongside facilities affiliated with medical universities, the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, the Imam Khomeini Relief Foundation and the Ministry of Science.
Each institution would provide support according to its area of expertise, with the goal of preventing temporary psychological distress from developing into chronic mental health disorders, he said.
The organization also used the news conference to announce a series of welfare and development projects to coincide with Iran's annual Welfare Week, scheduled for July 15-21.
Hosseini said 11,733 projects worth a combined 5.298 trillion tomans would be inaugurated during the week.
Employment initiatives account for the largest share of the program, with 9,426 new job opportunities expected to be created, he said.
The projects also include 2,068 housing units valued at 2.1 trillion tomans, 57 social health projects and 35 social emergency centers.
The provinces of Razavi Khorasan, Qom, West Azerbaijan and Khuzestan will receive the largest share of the new projects, according to the organization.
Hosseini also announced plans to begin construction on 12 additional projects worth 500 billion tomans next week.
Separately, he said 7,000 women heading households had received permanent housing through a joint program involving the State Welfare Organization, the Housing Foundation and other government bodies.
He described housing support as one of the organization's most significant achievements in assisting vulnerable families, saying stable housing remained a key component of broader social welfare and poverty reduction efforts.