Journal of Rescue and Relief (امداد و نجات)

INTRODUCTION: One of the technologies that can have significant results in the field of crisis management is remote sensing, which has the ability to quickly and accurately assess floods and is considered an important and safe tool for reducing risk and responding to this hazard. METHODS: In this study, radar data was used to quickly estimate the areas affected by the flood in the Chabahar city in January 2020, and the Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI) was used to verify the validity. FINDINGS: According to the research findings, the use of Sentinel-1 radar satellite data in critical situations such as flooding has a high potential for rapid and accurate monitoring of affected areas. Comparison of the results extracted from radar images with the NDWI based on Sentinel-2 optical images also showed that although there are differences between the two methods, a significant overlap was recorded between their results, indicating the relative validity of radar data for estimating flooded areas. CONCLUSION: Overall, it seems that the benefits of using radar images to estimate areas affected by floods are undeniable and that by optimizing the algorithms and methods used, desirable results can be achieved in line with the desired goal.

INTRODUCTION: Hazard awareness and first aid training are important elements in increasing resilience and reducing vulnerability of communities to disasters, especially in rural and border areas. The education ambassador vehicle, as a mobile educational system with access to remote areas, provides the opportunity to hold specialized and practical training courses in Golestan province and can play a key role in improving awareness and relief skills of villagers. METHODS: In this descriptive-analytical study with a quantitative approach, 1554 participants of training courses were surveyed in a three-month period from April to June 2025, of which 134 people responded to the questionnaire as an available sample. The data were analyzed using SPSS software, statistical tests and linear regression, one-sample t-test, independent, and linear regression. FINDINGS: The findings showed that the level of awareness of the participants before the training was significantly lower than the desired level, while after the training, 93.3% reported a possibility of using the learnings and 80.7% reported a positive attitude change. Also, 92.6% were satisfied with the quality of the training content and 91.1% with the practical training. In addition, there was no significant difference between genders in the effectiveness of the training, but a significant relationship was shown between demographic characteristics and satisfaction. CONCLUSION: According to the results, The results showed that the training provided through the Education Ambassador vehicle had a very positive and significant impact on improving the level of awareness and preparedness of villagers, and this innovative approach could be a successful model for other border and deprived areas of the country.

INTRODUCTION: Given the key role of the media in changing the attitudes and behavior of audiences, this study focuses on the impact of Iran's national media in strengthening or weakening public trust. Ineffective information dissemination in crises can lead to the spread of rumors and reduced collective participation. The aim of this research is to provide a scientific and practical framework and strategies for promoting media persuasion in crisis situations and its management with an emphasis on the Corona pandemic. METHODS: This applied research was conducted with a mixed approach. In the qualitative part, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 20 national media experts and managers and analyzed using data-based theory in three coding stages (open, axial, and selective). In the quantitative part, the extracted components were used as the basis for designing a specialized questionnaire based on the AHP technique, which was distributed among 400 media experts and analyzed with Expert Choice software. The validity of the tools was confirmed by experts and the reliability was confirmed with Cronbach's alpha of 0.87. FINDINGS: Data analysis showed that the most effective media persuasion strategies in the Corona crisis are: transparency and honesty of information (0.23), use of trusted experts (0.19), production of targeted content (0.17), two-way interaction with audiences (0.15), institutional cohesion (0.13), and use of new technologies (0.13). These components explain a total of 78% of the variance in public trust. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that effective persuasion in health crises requires a multidimensional approach that simultaneously pays attention to content, structural, and communication dimensions. The model proposed in this study can be a basis for designing national media strategies in future crises and systematic implementation of these strategies can increase the effectiveness of persuasion by up to 70%.

INTRODUCTION: Since proper planning for the supply, production, and distribution of medicines, especially in emergencies and humanitarian crises, relies on efficient and responsive management. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the factors affecting the policy-making of the supply, production, and distribution of medicines in the RCS. METHODS: In this descriptive-analytical study, all decision-makers, planners, and specialists of the RCS in the field of supply, production, and distribution of medicines were studied, and 365 people were selected and examined using a simple random sampling method and the Cochran formula. Data were collected using a researcher-made questionnaire whose validity and reliability were confirmed by experts and Cronbach's alpha (α=0.92). Data analysis was performed using the structural equation modeling (SEM) method in SmartPLS software. FINDINGS: Based on the findings, issues such as security and stability in drug supply, creating responsive and flexible structures in distribution, strategic planning and raw material supply chain management, facilitating and improving distribution and logistics processes, ensuring quality and standardizing production, fair and equitable distribution of drugs, developing purchasing infrastructure and new technologies, developing domestic capacities and self-sufficiency in production, continuous monitoring of the distribution process, effective monitoring and evaluation system, extensive coordination and cooperation with stakeholders, strategic and international cooperation, flexibility and accountability in production policies, flexibility in the purchasing process, and continuing research, development, and innovation in production, all have a positive and significant relationship with drug supply, production, and distribution policymaking in the IRCS. Also, all research hypotheses were confirmed (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The results show that to improve processes, policymakers should pay special attention to infrastructure development, strategic partnerships, flexibility in policymaking, and strengthening domestic capacities.

INTRODUCTION: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is an international non-governmental organization that provides a wide range of humanitarian services to its stakeholders. In an environment marked by growing complexities and challenges in humanitarian crises, commitment to good governance is crucial for effective response strategies. The aim of this study is to examine the extent to which good governance has been realized in the IFRC's operational and functional domains by analyzing available data. METHODS: This qualitative study examines the extent to which good governance has been achieved in the operational and functional areas of the IFRC using discourse analysis, literature review, and studying documents through examining historical documents, the IFRC's regulations, and the reports of the internal audit office over the past 50 years. FINDINGS: According to the findings, adherence to good governance principles enhances the legitimacy and effectiveness of IFRC operations. The development of ethical standards, transparency and accountability in resource management, and employee ethics and conduct are key factors in maintaining public trust and combating corruption. In the meantime, with an emphasis on impartiality, adherence to humanitarian principles, and attracting global support, the principle of integrity plays a central role, especially in rescue and relief operations. CONCLUSION: This study emphasizes the importance of IFRC’s fundamental principles such as humanity, impartiality, and independence as the foundations of decision-making in crises. As humanitarian needs evolve, strengthening these principles is essential to improve performance and preserve the dignity of those affected, also there is a need to focus on developing frameworks to better integrate these principles into operational strategies.

INTRODUCTION: Natural disasters, especially earthquakes, are phenomena that will cause great damage if not properly dealt with. Therefore, appropriate urban planning and resilience by understanding the nature of disasters and the capacity of cities are factors that play an effective role in reducing damage and ensuring the peace and safety of citizens, leading to a significant reduction in the level of vulnerability. In this study, land use planning was investigated to assess earthquake resilience in the city of Abdanan. METHODS: This research is descriptive-analytical with a quantitative approach. In order to collect data related to literature and theoretical foundations, library and document resources, reliable articles and websites, and existing studies were used along with field work. To collect information related to the case study (Abdanan region), related organs and organizations, especially the municipality, were consulted, and the data obtained was extracted using the capabilities of GIS software in the field of processing and combining layers, and final maps were extracted. FINDINGS: According to the research findings, out of a total of 6,653 households living in the city of Abdanan, more than half live in a very high and high earthquake hazard zone. On the other hand, the central and old areas of the city do not have suitable conditions in terms of resilience in terms of criteria involved in improving the urban structure, such as the type of structures and the quality of building materials, the age of buildings, buildings density, urban road network, access to open spaces, population density, and towards the development of the city, and in the event of a possible earthquake, high damages will occur. CONCLUSION: The results show that urban land use planning in the city of Abdanan, which has been implemented in the form of comprehensive urban plans, has not led to improving the resilience of this city in dealing with a possible earthquake.

INTRODUCTION: Women represent half of the world's population and play a crucial, yet often unrecognized in disaster risk reduction, sustainable development, and social resilience. Their involvement in caregiving, informal leadership, and crisis response, especially in a disaster-prone country like Iran, has a significant impact on community recovery and long-term development. However, socio-cultural barriers often limit their formal participation in disaster management processes. METHOD: This narrative review employed a descriptive-analytical approach supported by a systematic literature search. A total of 20 key articles were selected from both Persian and English academic databases, including Magiran, Noormags, Civilica, ISC, SID, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Inclusion criteria focused on peer-reviewed literature published between 2010 and 2024 that addressed women’s roles in disaster management and sustainable development within Iran or comparable contexts. FINDINGS: The analysis reveals that women in Iran play essential roles in environmental sustainability, psychological recovery, and community rebuilding in the aftermath of disasters. Despite their critical informal contributions, structural challenges—such as limited access to education, healthcare, leadership positions, and disaster preparedness resources—continue to hinder their involvement in formal Disaster Risk Management (DRM). The findings highlight the effectiveness of grassroots efforts led by women and the need for institutional support to enhance their impact. CONCLUSION: According to the results, there is an urgent need for gender-sensitive disaster response policies that recognize and empower women as active agents of change. Involving women in disaster planning and response through targeted education, community participation, and legal reforms will not only reduce vulnerabilities but also advance sustainable development and societal resilience in Iran.