Seyed Hassan Hashemi told reporters that medics had been sent to the region by an official request by Ms. Adeela Hammood Hussein Al-Aboody, his Iraqi counterpart; “the Ministry of Health has sent the medics in line with our humanitarian and ethical responsibilities; the Ministry will regularly watch the situation in providing medical services by Iranian team of medics. The team also has received necessary facilities and medical equipment in the mission,” he told reporters.
The request came when Iraqi minister made an urgent phone call for immediate medical help to victims of a reportedly chemical attack by ISIL in city of Kirkuk; the attack’s victims are mainly children and the elderly. Mr. Hashemi was visiting southern province of Hormozgan when he received the request and arranged for sending of the medics immediately. Team of medics is headed by Dr. Mostafa Ghanei, director of Pasteur Institute of Iran. Mr. Hashemi has also condemned the attack. On Wednesday, ISIL targeted parts of Kirkuk with mustard gas bombs, killing and wounding civilians, mainly children.
