2004/4

UN TO LAUNCH FLASH APPEAL

FOR BAM EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS

TEHRAN, 5 January (UNIC)—In order to seek further assistance from the international community, a Flash Appeal will be launched in Bam this coming Thursday, jointly by the national authorities, International Red Crescent Society (IRCS) and the United Nations Emergency Relief Coordinator.

As of 2 January, donors and UN/international organizations had already pledged or announced significant assistance. The value of the financial and in-kind contributions recorded by UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) amounted to US$ 73.9 million.

The UN Resident Coordinator in Iran visited the affected area last Friday and Saturday and met with the Governor-General of Kerman, district authorities, the Director-General of IRCS, the Field Assessment Coordination Team (FACT) and the UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) team to prepare the ground for the Appeal. The Flash Appeal will cover the following nine areas: 1) Food and Logistics, 2) Water and Sanitation, 3) Health and Nutrition, 4) Protection of Children and Women, 5) Education, 6) Coordination, Security, Telecommunications, Information, Monitoring and Evaluation, 7) Recovery, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, 8) Shelter, and 9) Cultural Heritage.

Over the weekend a joint UN mission, consulting with the regional authorities and other international partners completed its assessment of the sectoral needs in Bam before drafting the Appeal. The assessment team consisted of members from the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the UN Population Fund (UNFPA), the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the Office of UN Security Coordinator (UNSECOORD), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Food Programme (WFP).

OCHA is serving as a channel for cash contributions to be used for immediate relief assistance, in close coordination with relevant organizations in the United Nations system.

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