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As a pilot programme, Relief and Rescue Organisation of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has implemented psychological support for the affected people who were traumatised by losing their relatives in Qazvin province, affected by a strong earthquake in June last year.
On 22 June 2002, a devastating earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck northwestern Iran, destroying some parts of three provinces of Qazvin, Hamedan and Zanjan. Some 266 people were killed, around 1,466 wounded and plenty of houses and buildings were flatten. Qazvin province -- about 150 km (93 miles) west of Tehran, Iran's capital -- was among the areas hardest hit.

Since the beginning of the disaster, the Red Crescent considered psychological suffering as a challenge. The first field team of Relief and Rescue Organisation of the IRCS consisting of five specialists and a trainer set off with relief equipment including medical and first aid supplies to assess the psychological problems of those affected by earthquake in the scene on 26 June. With participation of 9 trainers, psychological support workers and volunteers from Red Crescent Relief and Rescue Organisation, the psychological support programme lasted for three months in 4 hardest affected villages of Qazvin province. The programme included some activities as follows:

Some 20 workers and volunteers from Red Crescent in Qazvin province participated in a one-day training workshop on introducing psychological support techniques.

Preparation of some information forms and exclusive instructions for psychological support workers.

Organising trained relief workers in four 5-member field teams who were set off two or three days every week to the sites in four villages.

Having a meeting with the participation of psychological support teams on explaining exclusive instructions and information forms.

Conduct of a psychological support workshop for trainers.

Preparation and distribution of some toys, storybooks and puzzles amongst children.

Direct presence of specialists in the affected regions for monitoring directly field teams and performing professional activities.

The teams had also been able to contact with over 400 affected people and introduce the symbols of psychological problems to some local persons in the sites. Psychological support teams conducted over 12 meetings for sympathising with those affected by the earthquake in the villages. According to the reports, the affected people gradually climbed out of their passive state and began to tackle their problems at the end of programme.