UNICEF Flash Appeal - Earthquake in Bam, Iran

ISSUE
A major earthquake registering 6.3 on the Richter Scale occurred December 26 at 05:28 (local time) in Iran's Kerman Province (south of the capitol Teheran). The earthquake was centred on Bam, an historical city with low houses and buildings (one to two stories in height). Although a consolidated assessment of the situation is not yet available, official revised government figures as of 29 December, indicate

• an estimated 20,000 dead
• approximately 30,000 injured of whom 10,000 have been medically evacuated to other parts of Iran
• some 70,000 people homeless, many of whom are staying with family members
• 80-90 per cent of buildings destroyed in the immediately affected area
• many orphans and unaccompanied minors

While the search and rescue phase of the operation is now winding down, access to, and communication with the affected area remains difficult. Casualty and injury figures could rise dramatically.

INITIAL RESPONSE

Immediately following the earthquake, UNICEF rushed emergency supplies to the affected population. Two UNICEF relief flights arrived on December 27. The first came from neighbouring Afghanistan, where UNICEF's ongoing relief effort made available vital emergency supplies from its stocks. That flight landed in Bam carrying medicines and medical equipment, tents, tarps and children's blankets. The flight was accompanied by a medical doctor from UNICEF's staff in Kabul.

A second, larger relief flight brought 40 mt of supplies from UNICEF's global supply centre in Copenhagen. Items in that cargo included:

• First aid and health supplies capable of treating 120,000 people
• Dozens of special obstetric and surgical kits each sufficient to assist in the delivery of 150 babies
• 14,000 blankets, including 7,600 baby blankets
• 625,000 water purification tablets to ensure a safe drinking supply
• 16 community water tanks with a capacity of 5,000 litres each
• 3 portable generators
• And tents, tarpaulin, rope, and other shelter supplies

On a third flight provided by the Government of Belgium, UNICEF sent 416 school-in-a-box kits. Each kit contains school supplies and education materials for up to 80 students plus supplies for the teacher. Using a locally developed teaching guide and curriculum, teachers can establish makeshift classes almost anywhere, thus ensuring a child's right to education. Educational activities promote a sense of normality, and help children deal with the effects of a crisis such as an earthquake. The re-establishment of schooling provides a focus for community activity and is an essential first step in the process of rebuilding a community.

IMPACT

These initial airlifts are intended to provide immediate relief and basic assistance and were a critical response to needs identified through rapid interagency assessments and requests from the Government of Iran. More detailed needs assessments are on-going and will be used to shape future programming response.

Key interventions are expected to include the following:

Protection: Identification, documentation and reunification of separated children; support for the care and protection of separated children, with particular attention to unaccompanied minors; psychosocial support to children affected by the disaster; working to ensure that all partners are knowledgeable on the their protection responsibilities and the UN code of conduct on sexual exploitation.

Water and environmental sanitation: Working to ensure the availability of a minimum safe water supply through the provision of technical and material support to local authorities and other implementing partners; facilitating safe excreta and solid waste disposal through the construction of culturally appropriate sanitation facilities; promotion of good hygiene practices.

Education: Initiate basic education services in collaboration with communities and local government authorities; establishing safe environments for children for learning, recreation and psychosocial support;

Health: Provision of essential supplies, including emergency health kits (essential drugs) and basic clinical and obstetric equipment, emergency shelter and blankets.

OVERALL BUDGET:

This is an initial estimate of short-term needs and UNICEF will participate in any UN consolidated appeal for this disaster. The following table includes the cost of items sent to date, technical support costs and projected initial interventions.