OCHA Situation Report No. 3
Islamic Republic of Iran - Earthquake
Occurred on 30-31 March
7 April 2006


This report is based on information provided by the Office for the 
Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Liaison Office and the Office of 
the UN Resident Coordinator in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran.

I. SITUATION

1. Following last week's earthquakes and subsequent aftershocks along a 
major fault line, Silakhor, affecting Lorestan province, the Government 
now confirms 63 deaths, 1,418 injured and some 160,000 persons affected. 
Although the number of deaths is relatively low, there is substantial 
damage to the infrastructure and a number of villages are completely 
destroyed.

2. According to the UN assessment mission, 320 villages are affected, 
with 35,000 to 40,000 homes partially or completely destroyed. In 
Boroujerd city, an additional 15,000 homes have suffered damage.

3. The UN Resident Coordinator, accompanied by senior Government 
officials from the National Disaster Task Force and OCHA, visited the 
affected region on 5 April. As a result of this joint mission, a 
decision was made to set up Resource and Information Centres to ensure 
information sharing and coordination among the agencies and Government 
partners.

II. NATIONAL RESPONSE

4. The Government has stated that most of the emergency relief 
operations are coming to an end, and focus on longer-term rehabilitation 
and reconstruction should now be the priority. According to the Resident 
Coordinator's office, the Government welcomes further assistance from 
the United Nations and other partners for the reconstruction efforts. 
However, there is still a need for tents, blankets and space heaters.

III. INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

5. UNICEF has distributed, through the Red Crescent Society, blankets 
and tents, giving priority to families with disabled children, child 
institutions and female-headed household. In cooperation with the 
national Social Welfare Organization, UNICEF and UNESCO plan to 
establish two centers providing education and psychosocial support, in 
the most affected areas (Azna and Darbe Astaneh villages). UNESCO will 
also conduct an assessment mission to Boroujerd on 9-10 April at the 
invitation of the Iran Cultural Heritage and Tourism Organization, 
investigating the damage to national heritage sites.

6. According to the Resident Coordinator, the UN agencies have 
contributed approximately USD 1 million towards relief and recovery 
efforts, either through cash or in-kind donations.  The contributions 
include:

|--------+-----------------------------------------|
| Agency | Contribution                            |
|--------+-----------------------------------------|
| UNICEF | USD 100,000 (including relief supplies) |
|--------+-----------------------------------------|
| UNFPA  | USD 100,00                              |
|--------+-----------------------------------------|
| WHO    | USD 100,00 (in addition, Emergency      |
|        | Health Kits)                            |
|--------+-----------------------------------------|
| OCHA   | USD 50,000 (provided through Government |
|        | of the Netherlands - USD30,000,         |
|        | and USD 20,000 from OCHA's reserve)     |
|--------+-----------------------------------------|
| UNDP   | USD 150,000                             |
|--------+-----------------------------------------|
| UNHCR  | Kitchen sets                            |
|--------+-----------------------------------------|
| WFP    | Kitchen sets                            |
|--------+-----------------------------------------|


7. On 3 April, the Government of Pakistan sent a planeload of relief 
items for the earthquake victims. The C-130 Pakistan Air Force delivered 
blankets, cooking oil and rice. The Russian Federation has delivered 
tents, blankets and space heaters totaling some USD 480,000. The 
Japanese Government has also provided tents, blankets and electric 
generators worth USD 85,000.

8. OCHA is in close contact with the UN Resident Coordinator and the 
OCHA Liaison Office in Tehran, and pending further developments this 
will be last situation report for this emergency.

9. This situation report, together with further information on other 
ongoing emergencies is also available on the OCHA Internet 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 Officer:
  Ms. Afia Ali Blasco / Ms. Sanjana Quazi
    Direct Tel. +41-22-917 1173 / 2810

Press contact:
  GVA - Ms. Elizabeth Byrs, direct Tel. +41-22-917 26 53
  NYC - Ms. Stephanie Bunker, direct Tel. +1-917 367 5126

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Appropriate Donations for International Disaster/Humanitarian Needs
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Center for International              web: www.cidi.org
    Disaster Information          listserv: www.cidi.org/listsub.htm
                                guidelines: www.cidi.org/donate.htm
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -