Tragic Human Cost of War: The Lives of Parastesh and Berivan

Tue Mar 24 2026 05:26:21 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Exploring the lives and untimely deaths of Iranian civilians amidst ongoing conflict, reflecting on the toll of war on innocent lives.

The conflict in Iran has led to significant civilian casualties, including young pharmacist Parastesh Dahaghin and blogger Berivan Molani. Their stories highlight the devastating impacts of warfare, as airstrikes and explosions claim lives and leave communities mourning. This article sheds light on the urgent need for protection of civilians and adherence to international humanitarian law amidst ongoing military actions.

Parastesh Dahaghin was a young pharmacist killed in an explosion while she was at work.

Berivan Molani was in bed when debris from an air strike in Tehran struck her head.

For over three weeks, Tehran and other cities have been brutalized by US and Israeli airstrikes, with thousands of targets struck across the country.

Reports of civilian casualties from these strikes do not exclude children. Eilmah Bilki, aged 3, died a day after being injured in the western town of Sardasht.

The toll on civilians is rising rapidly, and most of these stories remain untold.

Amidst the suffocating smoke of war and internet blackouts, fragmented information from Iran is surfacing, revealing the names of a small number of civilian victims caught in the crossfire of this conflict.

Parastesh was at her pharmacy in Tehran's Apadana neighborhood when a nearby IT building, allegedly linked to Iran's internet shutdown, was hit, according to the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center.

Her brother shared on Instagram that she was simply doing her job when she was killed. He recalled how she responded to family concerns: People need me; people have been wounded.

Berivan, a 26-year-old lifestyle blogger, had returned to Tehran from safety the day before her death. She was in bed when a missile struck, killing her instantly.

The plight of civilians is dire, with the International Committee of the Red Cross warning of an alarming rate of civilian casualties due to ongoing military operations. As the war rages on, civilians are left vulnerable, making calls for the protection of non-combatants and humanitarian infrastructure increasingly urgent.

Reports indicate that at least 1,400 civilians have lost their lives in the conflict, with a significant proportion being children. International humanitarian laws designed to protect civilians are seemingly being overlooked, raising questions about military accountability in the ongoing warfare.

As the conflict continues to unfold, the tragic stories of Parastesh and Berivan serve as poignant reminders of the human cost of war.