2003/1006

UN SYSTEM IN IRAN PROVIDES CASH , KIND SUPPORT

FOR BAM EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

            TEHRAN, 28 December (UNIC)—The United Nations system in the Islamic Republic of Iran has contributed cash and kind donations to the earthquake victims in Bam, the Kerman Province.

            A joint UN Field Assessment Team comprising of representatives from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), World Food Programme (WFP) and World Health Organization (WHO) was dispatched to the affected areas in Bam on Friday afternoon.

            The first UNICEF cargo flight arrived from neighboring Afghanistan in Bam Sunday morning and started to distribute its relief items consisting of medicines and medical equipment, tents, and children’s blankets. A medical doctor from UNICEF staff in Kabul has also arrived. The second flight which contains a larger relief cargo will depart from UNICEF’s global supply center in Copenhagen Sunday morning and will arrive early tonight in Iran. The 40 tones of relief items in that cargo include: first aid and health supplies capable of treating 120,000 people, dozens of special obstetric and surgical kits each sufficient to assist in the delivery of 150 babies, 14,000 blankets, including 5,600 baby blankets, 625,000 water purification tablets to ensure a safe drinking supply, 16 community water tanks with capacity of 5,000 liters each, 3 portable generators, and tents, tarpaulin, rope and other shelter supplies. The shipment is valued at approximately $285,000. 

            UNHCR is donating some 1,000 tents, some 10,000 blankets and 3,000 mattresses from its stock of supplies to assist refugees in Iran. The total value of the donation is approximately $140,000.  A convoy of eight trucks carrying these items has already left the UNHCR warehouse in Kermanshah this morning for Bam.

UNDP has contributed an emergency grant of US$100,000 to support national relief and coordination efforts. UN agencies are supporting the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office and UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) in coordinating the assistance of all UN agencies in Iran. UN System remains committed to working with the Government in emergency response and post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation activities.

Meanwhile, UN Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has contributed $90,000 in cash for local purchase of relief items. United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) would contribute $50,000 for purchase of medical items while World Health Organization (WHO) will provide medical and health supplies. WFP will provide food items for the earthquake victims. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) will participate in reconstruction of schools and historical Bam Citadel.

            According to the UN Field Assessment Team’s report, the following items are urgently needed for the earthquake victims: family tents (preferably winterized type), collective tents for health facilities and centers; emergency first aid kits, surgical trauma kits, obstetric kits, resuscitation kits, fracture fixture (aluminum), fog generator and environmental sanitation material, disinfectants, sterilization kits, canned food, high energy and high protein biscuits, medicine and medical equipment, life detectors, blankets, jerry cans and collapsible water tank, stoves and kerosene lanterns, heavy equipment (loaders).

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