These are Legal Ways for Americans to Help Earthquake Victims in Iran
Independent aggregator of Iran-related News/Events, Kodoom.com: Several Iranian Americans have reported blockage of fundraising pages by Facebook, preventing Americans from sending aid to Earthquake Victims in Iran. Newsweek also reports that in light of the current sanctions imposed by the US government against Iran, sending funds directly to Iranian charitable organizations without the relevant license from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, would leave the sender liable to civil or criminal charges.
According to the article and Guidance published on OFAC Related to Humanitarian Assistance with Regard to the November 12, 2017 Earthquake in Iran (link), the easiest legal way to help Iranians would be to send funds through the four licensed U.S.-based non-governmental organizations: Moms Against Poverty, based in California; Child Foundation, based in Portland; Children of Persia, based in Montgomery Village, Maryland; and Relief International, based in Los Angeles.
Non American charities such as UK-based Iran's Children Charity are also accepting donations that can be spent on Iranian earthquake victims in compliance with UK laws.
Americans can help in other ways too. U.S. citizens can send food, clothing or medicine to organizations that are not restricted. They can apply for a license themselves to engage in humanitarian efforts related to Iran.
U.S. financial institutions are authorized to process noncommercial, personal remittances to Iran, which may include a personal transfer of funds from the United States to Iran to assist a friend or family member, provided that the transfer complies with the requirements of sections 560.516 and 560.550 of the ITSR.
At least 450 people have been killed and nearly 7000 injured in the 7.2 earthquake that hit the Western province of Kermanshah. For latest news from inside Iran on the topic of earthquake, you can click Here.
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