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Iran Earthquake Appeal

Countries
Iran
Sources
ACT Alliance
Publication date

A P P E A L - MEIN71

Appeal Target : US$ 294,700

Geneva, May 16, 1997

Dear Friends,

On Saturday, May 10, a powerful earthquake struck the Khorasan province in the regions of Birjand and Qaen of eastern Iran. The earthquake measured 7.1 on the Richter scale and was followed by 185 aftershocks. By Tuesday, the number of deaths was put by Iranian authorities at 1,560 but many fear that it may be higher. Another 2,810 people are wounded. Some 148 villages have been ruined or severely damaged, leaving 50,000 people homeless. Over 100 schools and many healthposts, rural health centers and hospitals have suffered between 20 - 100% destruction. Iranian authorities Monday estimated material damages at $100 million. Another, smaller earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale struck in the Ardabil and Nir areas of northwestern Iran on Monday, but did not cause great losses in human lives or property damage.

The ACT Co-ordinating office was able to contact our ACT Network member, the Middle Eastern Council of Churches (MECC) on Tuesday afternoon, 13 May. Subsequently, ACT/MECC submitted a request for emergency assistance and funding on Thursday morning, 15 May. ACT/MECC has appealed for assistance to provide food, blankets, clothing, shoes, hygiene items, kitchen utensils and lanterns to an estimated 10,000 displaced and homeless individuals.

Many of the ACT Network agencies have expressed growing concern over this critical emergency situation during the past week and have offered financial assistance and support to ACT/MECC through an ACT appeal. ACT member Diakonisches Werk working together with Caritas Germany and also ACT member Church World Service have committed a total of $243,500 to the appeal as of 16 May. ACT/MECC membership includes the Catholic churches in the Mideast region.

ACT/MECC will work cooperatively with the Iranian Red Crescent Society (ICRS) to provide the emergency assistance to targeted beneficiary groups, prioritizing large families with children and those persons who have yet to receive any significant assistance. The ACT Co-ordinating office has requested ACT/MECC to provide more specific information regarding the implementation.

The ACT Co-ordinating office has requested ACT/MECC to insure their primary involvement in needs assessment, beneficiary selection, financial control and coordination of the emergency assistance to be provided, including a plan for which appeal activities and responsibilities will be conducted directly by ACT/MECC and which activities will be coordinated through ICRS. ACT/MECC will conduct the procurement of emergency materials, monitoring of emergency assistance, and all compliance issues in accordance with ACT guidelines. Additionally, the co-ordinating office has requested ACT/MECC to be substantially involved as possible for activities of distribution and transport, working together with the IRCS structures and personnel.

The ACT Co-ordinating office will propose an ACT Network visitation mission to eastern Iran with ACT/MECC during next 90 days in order to assess continuing emergency needs that may require additional support from the ACT Network and also to insure effective communication of these needs to the network. Interested ACT Network agencies will be invited to participate in this mission.

We thank you in advance for your support.

Rev. Myra Blyth
Miriam Lutz
Rev. Rudolf Hinz
Director
ACT Co-ordinator
Director
WCC/Unit IV
LWF/World Service


Ecumenical Centre, 150 route de Ferney , P.O. Box 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
Phone: ++41 22 791 6033 Fax: ++41 22 791 6506 E-mail: act@wcc-coe.org Telex: 415 730 OIK CH


Implementing Partner: MECC

Please kindly send your contributions to the ACT bank account.

For further information, please contact the ACT Co-ordinating Office.

I. ACT/MECC (Middle East Council of Churches) Emergency Appeal for
assistance to victims of the 10 May 1997 earthquake in eastern Iran.

Implementing Partner: ACT/MECC in cooperation with the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS). Distribution of emergency relief assistance will be carried out in coordination with the IRCS. Monitoring of relief assistance will be conducted jointly by ACT/MECC staff in Iran and the IRCS, with reporting and compliance insured by ACT/MECC.

Contact Information

Rev. Dr. Riad Jarjour - General Secr. Rev. Lewis R. Scudder, Jr.
Ayia Napa Conference Center, PO Box 48 MECC, PO Box 4259
5340 Ayia Napa, CYPRUS 3722 Limassol, CYPRUS
Tel: 357 3 721 284 or 721 288 Tel: 357 5 326 022
Fax: 357 3 722 584 Fax: 357 5 324 496

Mr. Malik Khodaverdian - MECC Liaison Officer For Iran
PO Box 15875-5534
Teheran, IRAN
Tel & Fax: 98 21 877 6095

Emergency Applied For: On Saturday, 10 May 1997, a powerful earthquake struck the Khorasan province in the regions of Birjand and Qaen of eastern Iran. The earthquake measured 7.1 on the Richter scale and was followed by 185 aftershocks. By Tuesday, the number of deaths was put by Iranian authorities at 1,560 but many fear that it may rise. Another 2,810 people are wounded. Some 148 villages have been ruined or severely damaged, leaving 50,000 people homeless. Over 100 schools and many healthposts, rural health centers and hospitals have suffered between 20 - 100% destruction. Iranian authorities Monday estimated material damages at $100 million. Another, smaller earthquake measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale struck in the Ardabil and Nir areas of northwestern Iran on Monday, but did not cause great losses in human lives or property damage.

Location: The Khorasan province is located in eastern Iran and borders upon Afghanistan. It is a remote mountanous region comprised of many small villages.

As a result of the earthquake, many of these villages have been cut off from the outside world by land slides which have blocked access routes. Facilities and communications, not well developed at the best of times, have been seriously crippled and hampered.

Date: The earthquake struck on Saturday, May 10, 1997 and was followed by 185 aftershocks.

Description of Overall Damage Caused by the Earthquake: Numerous villages in the Khorasan province between the cities of Birjand and Qaen were severely affected.

Latest reports indicate that 160 villages were damaged in the Qaen district which was the worst affected area. Additionally, 40 villages were damaged in the Birjand district. Approximately 70% of these villages were completely destroyed. The remaining villages have experienced damages of up to 60%. Many schools have collapsed during the earthquake resulting in the deaths of children.

Official statistics concerning the numbe of affected persons are still being determined. The most current estimates indicate 4,000 possible deaths and 6,000 serious injuries. As many as 50,000 persons have lost their homes and of this number, 40,000 have no alternative shelter available. Medical facilities, particularly in Qaen are almost non-existant.

Number and Type of Beneficiaries Targeted by Implementing Partner: Following consultation with the IRCS and assessment of needs, ACT/MECC has been requested to target it*s assistance to approximately 10,000 displaced and homeless individuals in the earthquake region. Priority will be given to:

a) Assisting large families with dependent children
b) To those families with no available shelter
c) To persons and families who have not yet received adequate assistance

ACT/MECC will work to insure that the most vulnerable persons receive emergency assistance without regard to race, gender, religion or ethnic background.

Stated Emergency Needs: Following assessment of emergency needs by ACT/MECC staff in Tehran and their discussions and coordination with the IRCS, the following items have been prioritized as critical needs:

a) Emergency Food Supplies
b) Blankets
c) Clothing
d) Kitchen Utensils and Cooking Equipment
e) Hygienic Supplies (Soap, Detergent, Etc)
f) Shoes
g) Lanterns

The specific composition and quantities of the above emergency relief materials will be determined according to local availability and market prices. Additionally, ACT/MECC may re-align quantities and total costs for the above materials in order to insure that the most critical needs are targeted and provided.

Procurement: ACT/MECC will procure all emergency relief materials from local market sources utilizing competitive, effective and efficient procedures in order to have materials for immediate distribution. Various international donors are supplying large quantities of "In-Kind" emergency relief materials to the earthquake victims. Additional materials may be donated from ACT Network agencies. ACT/MECC will conduct all procurement in accordance with established ACT procedures and policies.

Implementation: ACT/MECC will implement the emergency assistance over a 3 month period, which will start immediately.

As previously stated, ACT/MECC will work in close cooperation and coordination with the IRCS program and personnel and distribution of a substantial quantity of ACT funded relief supplies will be conducted by IRCS personnel. However, ACT/MECC will hire 6-10 additional short term local staff to work out of their Teheran office and assist IRCS personnel with distribution and also insure effective monitoring of all assistance provided. Additionally, ACT/MECC will procure, distribute and monitor a portion of the ACT funded relief assistance through existing member churches in Iran.

ACT/MECC will manage and control all project funds through their existing financial system. Project staff will be substantially involved in the continuing assessment of needs and the identification of beneficiaries. Procurement of relief supplies, monitoring of the distribution and overall project and all financial and programmatic reporting or compliance requirements will be conducted by ACT/MECC.

Coordination: The MECC Liaison Office in Teheran will oversee all aspects of program implementation and will ensure close coordination with the IRCS, local authorities and local volunteers.

Project Budget: (3 Month Period: 15 May - 15 August 1997)

Emergency Relief Materials
Emergency Food Supplies
$ 58,850
Blankets
69,350
Clothing
88,540
Kitchen Utensils and Cooking Equipment
6,840
Hygienic Supplies (Soap, Detergent, Etc)
30,400
Shoes
4,750
Lanterns
5,282
Transportation/Loading/Un-Loading of Relief Mat.
$ 6,688
Operational / Personnel / Administrative Costs*
$ 19,000
ACT Network Project Visitation Costs
$ 5,000
Total Appeal Budget ACT/MECC:
$ 294,700
Appeal Funds Committed
ACT/ Diakonisches Werk & Caritas Germany Donation
$ 153,000
ACT/CWS Donation and Pledge
90,500
Total Appeal Funds Committed:
$ 243,500


* ACT/MECC will provide a detailed breakdown of these
costs to the ACT Coordinating Office for approval

Total Appeal Funds Needed As Of 16 May, 1997: $ 51,200

Co-ordinating Office

APPEAL FACT SHEET

Appeal Number: MEIN71

Appeal Name: Iran Earthquake

Date Issued: 16 May 1997

Project Completion Date: 15 August 1997

Project Description: A powerful earthquake has struck the Khorasan province in the regions of Birjand and Qaen of eastern Iran. The earthquake measured 7.1 on the Richter scale and was followed by 185 aftershocks. The number of deaths has been put by Iranian authorities at 1,560 and another 2,810 people are wounded. An estimated 148 villages have been ruined or severely damaged, leaving 50,000 people homeless. Over 100 schools and many healthposts, rural health centers and hospitals have suffered between 20 - 100% destruction. Iranian authorities estimate material damages at $100 million. ACT implementor, MECC proposes to implement emergency relief assistance including the provision of food, blankets, clothing, shoes, hygiene items, kitchen utensils and lanterns to an estimated 10,000 displaced and homeless individuals affected by the earthquake.

Implementing Partner Activity Appeal Target Description (USD)
ACT/MECC Purchase & Procurement of Relief Mat.
264,012
Transport/Loading/Unloading of Relief Materials
6,688
Operational / Personnel / Adm. Costs
19,000
ACT Network Project Visitation Costs
5,000
TOTAL APPEAL TARGET:
$ 294,700


*** Pledges can be communicated to ACT by using the Appeal Pledge Form ***

ACT
Account Number: 102539/00161
Banque Scandinave en Suisse
Cours de Rive 11
Case postale 3754
1211 Genève 3
SWITZERLAND

Action by Churches Together (ACT) is a worldwide network of Churches and their related agencies meeting human need through co-ordinated emergency response and common identity. The ACT network is organizationally based in the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) and the World Council of Churches (WCC) and is a co-ordinating rather than operational office.

Ecumenical Centre / 150, route de Ferney / P.O. Box 2100 / 1211 Geneva 2 / Switzerland Phone:++41-22-791.60.33 / Fax:++41-22-791.65.06 / E-mail:

act@wcc-coe.org / Telex: 415 730 OIK CH

Co-ordinating Office

APPEAL PLEDGE FORM
(Please fax to the ACT Co-ordinating Office - Fax:++41 22 791 6506)





Appeal Name: Iran Earthquake


Appeal Number: MEIN71


Appeal Target: $ 294,700

Project Completion Dates: 15 August 1997


Contributing organization: ........................................ Telephone number:..............................

Contact person: .......................................... ..................................... .....................

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Date


1. Contributions to the ACT bank account: 102539/0.01.61

Amount Expected Other Details
(indicate currency)

Transfer Date

and Source of Funding

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Own Funds, Government, Other

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2. Contributions direct to an implementing partner:

Implementing Appeal Amount Expected
Partner Component (indicate currency)
Transfer Date

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3. Applications to back donors - Governments, ECHO, etc:

Application Implementing Appeal Amount
Made to Partner Component (indicate currency)

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Ecumenical Centre, 150 route de Ferney , P.O. Box 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
Phone: ++41 22 791 6033 Fax: ++41 22 791 6506 E-mail: act@wcc-coe.org Telex: 415 730 OIK CH