Weeks into the ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, much of the global conversation has focused on military targets, strategic calculations, and regional escalation.
But there is another side to this story—one that receives far less attention: humanitarian aid.
According to the Iranian Red Crescent Society, nearly 7,000 civilian structures have been hit since the conflict intensified. These include homes, schools, and healthcare facilities.
At least 18 medical centers have been damaged, 65 schools struck, and over 1,300 civilians killed—a number that continues to rise.
While Washington maintains that its operations are aimed at military and critical infrastructure, the scale of civilian impact raises serious questions.
In most conflicts, the international response typically includes not only calls for restraint, but also large-scale humanitarian assistance.
That is where the contrast becomes more apparent.
In the case of Iran, there has been little visible humanitarian engagement from Western countries, beyond diplomatic statements urging de-escalation.
China, meanwhile, has positioned itself differently.
Beijing has announced emergency humanitarian assistance to Iran, as well as neighboring countries affected by the spillover, including Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq. The Red Cross Society of China has also provided targeted support, including $200,000 in aid to families of schoolgirls killed in an air strike on an elementary school in Minab.
At the diplomatic level, Chinese officials have emphasized de-escalation. Wang Yi has called for an immediate ceasefire, stating that civilians “must not become victims of war.”
Over the past two decades, China has also invested heavily in the Middle East—not only through aid, but through infrastructure and development projects aimed at long-term stability.
Reporter: Xie Hongzhou
Cameraman: Xie Hongzhou
Video: Pan Jiajun
Poster: Lai Meiya
