Iran Deploys Medical Convoy to Iraq
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran on Friday dispatched a large convoy of medical staff to Iraq to provide services to the pilgrims who travel to the holy city of Karbala on Arbaeen, the 40th day after the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (PBUH).
The convoy, consisting 25 vehicles, offers medical services to the pilgrims that travel the 80-kilometer route between Iraqi holy cities of Najaf and Karbala on foot.
Head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society Relief and Rescue Organization Pirhossein Koulivand told Tasnim that Iranian medical teams will be stationed every 5 kilometers in the road, which is expected to swarm with hiking pilgrims.
The Arbaeen ceremony, one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, falls on December 13 this year.
Millions of Shiite Muslims will flock into the holy city of Karbala to mark the 40th day after the anniversary of the martyrdom of their 3rd Imam, Imam Hussein (PBUH).
For nearly 30 years under Saddam's regime it was forbidden to commemorate Arbaeen publicly in Iraq.
