Iran's Revolutionary Guard on Tuesday announced that it has formed a new command center to aid families who have been hit by the coronavirus crisis.

The Revolutionary Guard Commander Major General Hossein Salami on Tuesday said the new command center dubbed as "Imam Hassan Headquarters" will work with other entities to plan and execute the activities required for aiding those in need.

In a televised speech April 6 Iran's Supreme Leader called on Iranians to start an "Aid by the Pious" campaign to help families who are facing difficulties as a result of the coronavirus crisis.

The Basij paramilitary volunteer militia is to distribute "support packages" to Iranian families in need of financial support in the first phase of the campaign, General Salami said.

The entities helping the Revolutionary Guard include Mostazafan Foundation, Imam Khomeini Relief Committee, Executive Headquarters For Implementation of Imam Khomeini's Decree and Astan-e Qods-e Razavi. These entities control some of the largest holdings in Iran and have access to vast financial resources.

According to the Revolutionary Guard affiliated Tasnim News Agency the first meeting of the members of the new headquarter was held at the Revolutionary Guard's General Command Headquarters on Tuesday. The new IRGC body's first task will be distributing "aid packages" to 3.5 million families through the Basij militia network.

Aid packages will be prepared as soon as possible and will be distributed with a label indicating the name of the entity that has provided it through the Basij network, Fars News Agency reported.

In the past few days Revolutionary Guard affiliated and other news agencies have reported the commencement of activities such as distribution of essential goods and prepared food by Basij militia across the country.