[Formati] RE: RELIEF, RECOVERY AND IMMEDIATE REHABILITATION FOR IRANS!

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In Brief, 

THIS EMERGENCY APPEAL SEEKS (IRR 351,954,698,240.00, CHF 51,913,000, USD =
42,419,512.00, GBP 23,037,808.00 OR EUR 33,085,966.00) IN CASH, KIND, OR =
SERVICES TO ASSIST 210,000 BENEFICIARIES IN IRAN. 

The situation 

On the morning of 26 December 2003 at 05:28 (local time) a major earthquake =
measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale struck the city of Bam, Kerman Province, =
southeastern Iran. According to seismologists, the earthquake is one of the =
shallowest recorded, with a focal depth of only 10-12 kilometres and the =
epicentre directly underneath Bam city. Bam is located on a main earthquake =
fault line. 

Iran is ranked as the fourth most disaster prone country in the world, and =
this was the worst earthquake to hit the country in more than a decade. 

According to the latest estimates, some 30,000 people were killed, =
approximately 30,000 injured (of which some 10,000 were evacuated out of the =
area), and approximately 45,000 people were made homeless in Bam (this figure =
can be expected to increase to 75,000 once people return to the area, the =
injured are released from hospitals outside the area, or upon the return of =
an anticipated 10,000 who have sought refuge with relatives in neighbouring =
villages and districts). Approximately 1,850 children have been registered as =
unaccompanied and homeless, but this number is expected to increase. 

In Bam itself, more than 85 percent of the buildings were completely =
destroyed, with damage varying from 95 percent in the 2,500 year-old historic =
city centre, to 0.5 percent in New Bam. Although most of the casualties =
occurred in Bam itself, the impact on surrounding rural areas was also =
severe. According to a recent survey, more than 18,000 houses across 250 =
villages were completely destroyed and will have to be rebuilt.

According to the Ministry of Education in Kerman Province, all 131 schools in =
Bam and the surrounding villages are destroyed or damaged (to the extent of =
being unusable). One week after the earthquake, officials estimate that there =
are 18,000 to 20,000 students who are in need of school facilities and =
teachers. There is a critical shortage of qualified teachers. The local =
administration and communication infrastructure of the city was also =
destroyed. 

As a result of the earthquake the electricity, water supply, and most public =
health services were completely disrupted. According to the Ministry of =
Health (MoH) all 95 health houses, 14 rural health centres, and 10 urban =
health centres were destroyed, as well as general governmental hospitals =
(with a total bed capacity of 240). These general hospitals were providing =
health and curative services to an estimate population of 240,000 from the =
city itself and the surroundings. Damage varies from one to another facility, =
but generally no health facilities were functional due to the extent of the =
destruction and the immediate non-availability of local health workers. =
According to the sources in the MoH, 50 percent of the health providers in =
the district had died or are missing. 

The MoH and the IRCS, with the support of the Iranian Army, launched a =
massive evacuation operation for the people injured by the earthquake. It is =
estimated that nearly 10,000 injured people were airlifted or transported by =
road to other cities of Iran. 

According to the authorities, the search in 95 percent of all houses/building =
has been completed. The majority of people who remain in the area have been =
allocated a tent and have settled in the vicinity of their former houses, and =
will have an opportunity to temporarily move to semi-permanent structures or =
organized tent camps as soon as the authorities properly identify property. 

Given the scale and scope of the disaster, the Government of the Islamic =
Republic of Iran and the IRCS formally requested international assistance, =
and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (the =
Federation) responded by launching a preliminary Appeal (no. 25/03) on 26 =
December 2003 to provide immediate relief and basic assistance to the =
intended 200,000 beneficiaries, and to undertake assessments with a view to =
providing longer-term rehabilitation and reconstruction assistance. 

I am pleased to announce that in response to the Appeal launched by the =
United Nations overnight, the Australian Government has provided additional =
funds to help victims of the earthquake in the Iranian city of Bam. 

Australia's contribution to the Flash Appeal will be $2 million. This is in =
addition to $2 million in immediate relief. Today's commitment of $2 million =
to the UN Flash Appeal brings Australia's total assistance in response to the =
Bam earthquake to $4.5 million. 

The Japanese government on Friday announced it will provide 770,000 U.S. =
dollars to the UN Flash Appeal. 
 
The ongoing international assistance and commitment -- including the general =
public both private and government bodies will be needed in the coming years =
to help rebuild communities in southeastern Iran which of course would be =
Long-term commitment that would last for several years. 

The funds are being used by UN and international agencies for continuing =
emergency relief work and for rehabilitation and recovery programs. 

It is gratifying that in addition to the swift response of the Australian =
Government the general public have also been generous in making their =
personal donations to various appeals worldwide both in cash, kind and =
services and especially here in the United Kingdom. Your own little =
contribution would help the victims of the earthquake in the Iranian city of =
Bam. 

To send your contributions in cash, kind, or services, please send your =
proposal by email, fax or call for further instructions. We have designated =
receiving agencies/bank accounts at different locations in selected countries =
for this purpose and would welcome your urgent contribution. Alternatively, =
you are at liberty to make your contribution directly to the United Nations =
(UN) agencies concerned or to the Iranian Government as part of the on-going =
bilateral cooperation. With regards to funds channelled through the UN =
System, appropriate UN agencies will be accountable for planning, monitoring, =
coordinating and reporting on the progress to their respective donors. This =
Office is prepared to serve as a channel for receiving all contributions =96 =
including anonymous contributions towards relief and initial rehabilitation =
activities of this Flash Appeal. The anonymous contributions will be =
allocated in consultation with the United Nations Resident Coordinator and =
the relevant United Nations Agencies according to agreed priorities. 

My Regards,

Dominic Morice (Mr.),
Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator 
Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
Beech Lodge, Jacobstiwe
Okehampton Devon
EX20 3RG, UNITED KINGDOM.
T/f : +44 (0) 709 280 5133.
FAX :+44 (0) 7005 801 993. 
Email: feedbacks@zwallet.com


  
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