In brief
The ongoing conflict in Iran has taken a devastating toll on its civilians, exemplified by the recent deaths of Parastesh Dahaghin, a young pharmacist, and Berivan Molani, a lifestyle blogger. Reports indicate that over 1,400 civilians have lost their lives since the war began, leading to grave concerns from humanitarian organizations about civilian safety and the need for protection under international law. The struggle for survival grows as war-torn cities face continuous airstrikes.
A committed pharmacist and a homesick blogger – the Iranian civilians killed in the war
Parastesh Dahaghin was a young pharmacist killed in an explosion while she was at work. In a tragic coincidence, Berivan Molani, a 26-year-old lifestyle blogger, was struck by debris from an airstrike in Tehran just a day after returning home. Their stories represent just a fraction of the civilian casualties in a country under siege, as ongoing U.S. and Israeli airstrikes have bombarded cities like Tehran for over three weeks, impacting countless lives.
The toll on civilians is increasing alarmingly, with reports indicating that over 1,400 have died, including a notable 15% being children. Eilmah Bilki, aged just three, verified as one of the youngest casualties, reportedly succumbed to injuries from a strike in Sardasht. Many victims' stories may never be told, but through an internet blackout, fragments of their lives are emerging.
Parastesh had chosen to remain at her pharmacy in Tehran's Apadana neighborhood, insisting, People need me; people have been wounded. Her commitment cost her life when her workplace was hit in a strike targeting nearby infrastructure involved in Iran's internet shutdown, according to reports.
In another tragedy, Berivan was killed in her bed caught in a strike aimed at a nearby government minister's residence. Friends mourn her loss, expressing shock that an ordinary night turned fatal. Her fading dreams of safety and normalcy resonate deeply as she had only just returned home from a supposedly safer region, longing for her childhood comforts.
International organizations like the International Committee of the Red Cross and Human Rights Activists News Agency advocate for protection of civilians under international humanitarian law, as aerial attacks indiscriminately claim lives of innocents, targeting areas dense with civilian populations.
In this dire situation, Iranians are caught between the ruthless realities of warfare and attempts to navigate their lives within a collapsing society. The call for urgent measures to protect civilians during conflicts has never been clearer; as the horrors unfold, countless families continue to pay the highest price.
