Ref: OCHA/GVA - 2002/0123
OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Islamic Republic of Iran - Earthquake
24 June 2002

The Government of Iran has indicated that it would welcome financial and material aid from the international community.

Situation

1. According to revised statistics provided by the Ministry of Interior, the earthquake that struck northwestern Iran on 22 June 2002 has caused 226 confirmed deaths in the Qazvin region and 3 deaths in the Hamadan region. At least 1,300 people have been injured, 500 of whom have been hospitalized and 800 treated for minor injuries.

2. While estimates of the number of homeless vary, a preliminary survey conducted by the Ministry indicates that 5,000 dwellings have been totally demolished in the worst-affected area, Qazvin. The number of dwellings severely damaged in Hamadan stands at 8,000 and at 6,100 in Zanjan. A comprehensive shelter survey is expected to be completed by the Government. Meanwhile, the Iranian Red Crescent Society reports that some 25,000 people have been left homeless. A survey of damage to road and communications infrastructure is due to be completed soon.

National and International Response

3. Search and rescue operations have been carried out by the Iranian Red Crescent Society, Provincial Disaster Task Force of the Ministry of Interior, Armed Forces, Ministries of Roads and Transportation, Agricultural Jihad, Health and other governmental authorities as well as local volunteers.

4. The Government of Iran is continuing to mobilize national resources to respond to immediate needs through the provision of food rations, tents, water tankers and mobile health facilities. The Government has indicated that it would welcome financial and material aid from the international community. The Government welcomes financial contributions for in-country purchase of relief items. The UN Country Team and OCHA will work closely with governmental authorities to mobilize and coordinate international assistance.

5. National authorities are providing health services through the establishment of five mobile medical teams composed of a general physician, one nurse and one environmentalist; the mobilization of two vaccination teams to vaccinate all injured people above 6-years of age with DT vaccines; the building of latrines and chlorination of drinking water resources. The provision of necessary interventions to prevent epidemic prone diseases is also planned. The health care providers are prepared to receive the cases of rabies, scorpion and snakebites.

6. While the government has not sought assistance for search and rescue operations, relief assistance would be needed, especially in shelter (temporary and reconstruction assistance), health, and water and sanitation sectors.

7. The United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) Team comprising three members arrived in Tehran on 24 June 2002. UNDAC members met with the Resident Coordinator and members of the UN Security Management and Disaster Team (SEDIMAT) to receive a de-briefing on the UN Field Assessment Team's (UNFAT) mission, deployed on 22 June 2002 to Avaj with representatives of UNDP, UNICEF, WFP and WHO. It is expected that the UNDAC Team will continue to be deployed to the field as long as required to comprehensively assess relief requirements and monitor the effectiveness of delivery. It was agreed, however, that no further deployment of UNDAC members was required.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has arranged for the immediate release of five emergency health kits. These kits will serve for the primary health care needs of 50,000 people. WHO has also offered to procure scorpion anti-venom serum from local sources and is prepared to airlift emergency trauma kits from abroad if requested by the government.

UNICEF is providing water tankers, chlorine tablets and other chemicals for water purification. UNICEF has also expressed its willingness to provide medical kits, if needed.

UNHCR has offered the use of trucks for logistics and has the capability of providing additional emergency tents for up to 80,000 from in-country strategic stocks.

WFP is prepared to feed 15,000 people for a period of 2-4 weeks, while the FAO will provide seeds and fertilizer and assist in the rehabilitation of irrigation networks and farm areas should the need arise.

UNFPA has indicated that it could release additional emergency kits, if required.

UNDP has agreed to provide an immediate emergency financial grant of $50,000 for coordination purposes and logistics.

8. The UN agencies also agreed on the following immediate actions:

• to issue of a Press Release outlining humanitarian needs to the international community and the preliminary governmental and UN response to the crisis. The UN Resident Coordinator and a representative of the Ministry of Interior convened a media briefing at the UNDP Office on 24 June 2002;
  
  
• the deployment of two UNDAC members to the affected area on the 25 June 2002 with the participation of agency experts in public health (WHO), food security (WFP) and shelter (HCR);
  
  
• a joint briefing of the diplomatic community to be chaired by the UN Resident Coordinator and an UNDAC member and the Government of Iran in Tehran on 25 June 2002 to present the government's priority assistance requirements and coordinate bilateral pledges that have been received from donors.

9. UN agencies have recognized that a consolidated list of relief assistance requirements still needs to be refined in separate meetings with the UN and counterparts in the Ministries of Interior and Foreign Affairs, acting as the central coordinating body for the delivery of international assistance.

10. OCHA remains in contact with the UN Resident Coordinator's Office in the Islamic Republic of Iran, and will revert with further information when available.

11. This Situation Report and further information on ongoing emergencies are also available on the OCHA website at http://www.reliefweb.int.

Telephone: +41-22-917 12 34
Fax: +41-22-917 00 23
E-mail: ochagva@un.org

In case of emergency only: Tel. +41-22-917 20 10

Desk Officers:

Ms. H. Kuttab / Mr. J. de Meritens / Ms. F. D'Andreagiovanni
Direct Tel. +41-22-917 19 34 / 31 94 / 14 78

Press contact:

(in GVA) Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
(in N.Y.) Ms. Phyllis Lee, direct Tel. +1-212-963 48 32