UNITED NATIONS TO LAUNCH APPEAL FOR IRAN QUAKE VICTIMS

UNITED NATIONS TO LAUNCH APPEAL FOR IRAN QUAKE VICTIMS

NEW YORK, 31 December (OCHA) -- In support of the efforts of the Government of Iran, on January 8 the United Nations will launch a Flash Appeal for victims of the earthquake that struck Bam on December 26, 2003.  The Appeal will address relief, recovery and early rehabilitation needs for the next three months.  It will also prepare the ground for longer-term rehabilitation and development.  Assessments of needs are currently ongoing, in collaboration with the Government of Iran and the Iranian Red Crescent.    

The humanitarian response to the earthquake in Bam, Iran, is shifting from search and rescue, emergency medical intervention and evacuation, to relief assistance and determination of short and medium term needs.  As of yesterday, more than 10 search and rescue teams had left the area, while medical teams are arriving. 

At least 1,400 relief flights have landed since 26 December.  Most immediate needs are being addressed, with shelter and sanitation the highest current priorities.  United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination staff have been on the ground since last week to help coordinate relief efforts.  Tents are being flown in daily and are being rapidly distributed, along with other supplies such as blankets and heaters.  The supply of food and water is adequate.  A convoy from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has delivered 1,000 tents, 10,000 blankets and 3,000 mattresses to nearby Kerman.  The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has delivered medicine, obstetric kits, blankets, water purification tablets, community water tanks, portable generators and shelter supplies such as tents, tarpaulin and rope.  The UNICEF has also flown in more than 400 school-in-a-box kits, each of which contains school supplies and education materials for up to 80 students, plus supplies for the teacher.  The UNICEF is locally purchasing 10,000 sets of children's clothing (coats, sweaters, boots, trousers, and mittens) to distribute to those in need.

Health needs are gradually being addressed.  The World Health Organization (WHO) has sent a team of experts to support the Iranian health authorities in coordinating the response to health risks.  WHO experts stand ready to respond to disease outbreaks and contain epidemics, should they occur.  The Iranian Red Crescent has treated approximately 30,000 casualties in four days, of which 10,000 have been evacuated to receive care in seven other centres in Iran.  Five field hospitals have been set up around Bam, and five more will be up and running by tomorrow.

The Red Crescent has divided the city up into 27 districts and will register people to receive aid.  The Government is looking for sites within the city to set up camps for an estimated 40,000 homeless people.  The construction of three camps is already underway.  The number of survivors remaining in the city is unclear, because there appears to have been a mass exodus of 20,000 to 30,000 people after the quake, with people going to stay with friends and relatives in surrounding villages.  Twenty-eight thousand deaths have been registered and the remains buried, but the total number of casualties may be as high as 34,000. 

For further information, please call:  Stephanie Bunker, OCHA New York, tel.:  917 367 5126, mobile:  917 892 1679; or Elizabeth Byrs, OCHA Geneva, tel.:  41 22 917 2653, mobile:  41(0) 79 472 4570.

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