As Iran struggles to provide much-needed relief to victims of the devastating 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck on Sunday night, U.S. sanctions have complicated efforts by people in the United States wishing to donate to those in need.
More than 500 people were killed and close to 7,400 were injured in the earthquake, which struck the Iran-Iraq border and left homes and villages utterly destroyed. A majority of the victims were in Iran’s province of Kermanshah. The predominantly Kurdish town of Sarpol-e Zahab was especially hard hit, and many families have created makeshift shelters as they await cold and freezing temperatures in the days to come. While the Iranian government has delivered some assistance in the form of tents, food, and water, many survivors have criticized what they view as a slow response.
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