SECRETARY-GENERAL OFFERS CONDOLENCES, ASSISTANCE FOLLOWING IRAN EARTHQUAKE

The following statement was issued on Saturday 22 June by the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General has learned with distress that an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter Scale hit various provinces in the western part of the Islamic Republic of Iran.  The Secretary-General is deeply saddened by the important loss of lives and the extensive damage that resulted from the disaster.  He wishes to convey his condolences and deepest sympathy to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran and to the victims of the disaster.

The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has been in contact with the Iranian authorities through the United Nations Resident Representative's office in Tehran, and offered assistance to the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, including the deployment of a United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination team to work with the United Nations country team in Iran and the national emergency management authorities in coordinating international response to the emergency.

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