DFID Iran - Bam Earthquake Situation Report No. 5

KEY DEVELOPMENTS

• Iranian government estimates final death toll at 30,000-32,000.
  
  
• 3 camps for survivors now operational; many opting to stay near destroyed homes.
  
  
• UN Flash Appeal to be launched 8 January.
  
  
• UK Search and Rescue teams have returned to UK. Second DFID assessment team deployed to Iran, to assess medium and long-term needs. DFID funding strategy to follow.

Casualties and damage

1. Iranian authorities estimate final death toll between 30,000 and 32,000. 13,000 injured evacuated and 17,000 treated locally. 70 - 80,000 reported to be homeless.

2. Iranian Ministry for Foreign Affairs says earthquake was 8-10 km deep, centred on Bam. 80-100% of old buildings, and 60% of new buildings destroyed. Damage extends for 10 kms outside city. 48 of 150 outlying villages surveyed have sustained damage. 18,000 housing units in villages destroyed completely, 25,000 in urban areas.

Access

3. International flights directed to Tehran due to congestion and lack of storage capacity in Bam and Kerman, reports OCHA.

4. Government of Iran reverted to standard visa issuance regime. Visas available from Bam and Kerman for those in country.

Co-ordination

5. Iranian Ministry for Foreign Affairs expresses gratitude for international assistance. Lund, head of the UN Disaster Response Team in Bam said Iranian response was best he had seen in 20 years.

6. Iranian Red Crescent continues to lead operations effectively. In early phase, it mobilised 8,500 relief workers, including search and rescue and medical teams, 725 vehicles, 2 helicopters and technical equipment. 1,700 relief workers are currently in situ, registering affected people and issuing distribution cards and monthly distributions.

Outlying villages

7. Initial assessments from Bam's 15 outlying villages (30 km northeast and southeast from Bam) report: Shortage of food due to disrupted supply channels; closure of schools due to missing teachers; medium to minor damage to houses; and respiratory infections due to cold weather. An estimated 10,000 former Bam residents have sought refuge, many sleeping in tents due to fear of aftershocks. Systematic distributions not yet properly established.

Economy

8. Local economy dependent on agriculture and tourism; both have been hit. Agriculture can be revived fairly quickly. International support required to restore citadel. Experts started planning city's reconstruction. Exact location to be determined.

Health

9. OCHA reports eight field hospitals operational in Bam. WHO has established active disease surveillance for 17 priority diseases in 12 zones of city and surrounding areas.

Shelter

10. Six camps with water, electricity and sewage facilities underway. First three open, but majority of people opting to stay close to properties, reports OCHA. UNDP comments that relocation has taken place in a generally sensitive way.

Tracing

11. Iranian Red Crescent Society tracing service in Tehran underway to register missing persons. Telephones available to victims with capacity for up to 4,000 outgoing calls. 40 IFRC staff providing psychosocial support.

Power and Water

12. IFRC FACT team report that nine of Bam's 11 water boreholes that serve the city are fully functional. Underground storage tanks appear to be intact. However, one of two distribution lines conducting water to city, is damaged. Water appears to be clean, but a full assessment is required.

13. 20 of 95 wells supplying Bam's 245 outlying villages damaged. 60 villages being supplied by 70 water trucks.

14. Bam's telecommunications now reconnected.

UK Contribution

Donor pledges

15. OCHA has recorded a total of US$74.8 million of donor contributions.