Statement of the Student Scientific Association of Orthotics and Prosthetics, University of Rehabilitation Sciences and Social Health

On the Importance of Early Physical Rehabilitation in Disasters and Emergencies

With deep sorrow and grief, we condemn the recent criminal attack by the Zionist regime on our beloved homeland, Iran, which once again underscores the urgent need for comprehensive national preparedness in facing crises and disasters. This tragic incident, like other natural or man-made calamities, has shown that an effective response to crises cannot be limited to medical and emergency actions alone. Early physical rehabilitation must be considered an essential component of disaster management and harm reduction from the very first stages of crisis response. Based on evidence and the guidelines of the World Health Organization, early rehabilitation services play a vital role in preserving the dignity of affected individuals by preventing permanent disabilities, reducing secondary complications, facilitating the return of survivors to independent living, and improving their quality of life.

The invaluable national experience of the 6.2 magnitude earthquake drill in Tehran — organized by the Tehran Crisis Management Organization in collaboration with the University of Rehabilitation Sciences and Social Health — clearly demonstrated the effectiveness and necessity of integrating physical rehabilitation teams within emergency response structures.

The Student Scientific Association of Orthotics and Prosthetics at the University of Rehabilitation Sciences and Social Health, while expressing heartfelt solidarity with the victims and bereaved families of this tragedy, calls upon the medical community of Iran to formally recognize early physical rehabilitation as an inseparable part of disaster treatment protocols. We urge closer and more effective cooperation with specialists in orthotics and prosthetics, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, and other rehabilitation fields in designing and implementing crisis response strategies. We also call on the rehabilitation community to enhance preparedness for effective disaster response through the formation of specialized volunteer teams and active participation in training, research, and interdisciplinary exercises related to crises.

In this regard, we request that national authorities, policymakers, and relevant organizations prioritize the formal integration of physical rehabilitation teams into the country’s disaster management frameworks and take immediate action to supply essential equipment and logistical support for rehabilitation services within emergency stockpiles.

We strongly urge the international community, global health organizations, and human rights bodies not only to unequivocally and loudly condemn the savage and criminal attacks on civilian infrastructure and health facilities, but also to take practical, effective, and responsible measures to support the development of crisis rehabilitation infrastructure and capacity in Iran and all nations suffering from aggression, violence, and disasters. Today, silence or inaction in the face of these atrocities and the deprivation of victims from vital rehabilitation services amounts to complicity with the perpetrators of such tragedies. We expect the global community to fulfill its humanitarian and moral duty to support human dignity and the recovery of victims with resolve and honor.

As students and future professionals in orthotics and prosthetics, we pledge to apply our scientific and practical capacities to advance health, empower those affected, and safeguard human dignity in times of crisis.

Student Scientific Association of Orthotics and Prosthetics

University of Rehabilitation Sciences and Social Health

Summer 2025