Iran: Earthquake [DHA-02: 07-Feb-97]

Iran: Earthquake [DHA-02: 07-Feb-97]



     
                              United Nations
                    Department of Humanitarian Affairs

                            IRAN - EARTHQUAKE
                    DHA-GENEVA SITUATION REPORT NO. 2
                             7 FEBRUARY 1997


       1.  On 4 February 1997 three earthquakes measuring  5.4, 6.1
       and 4.0 on the Richter scale (at 13.24 hours, 14.08 hours and 
       16.00 hours local time) rocked Northern Khorasan, and to date the 
       area has experienced more than 290 aftershocks.
                                                                    
       2. The UN Resident Coordinator reports the following         
       updated information, released on 6 February                  
       by the National Disaster Task Force of the Ministry of       
       Interior, on  the loss and damages :                         
                                                                    
                - 79 dead                                           
                - 360 injured                                       
                - 14 villages totally destroyed                     
                - 49 villages 50 to 100 per cent destroyed          
                - 4,000 households affected ( 25,000 people)        
                - 2,800 houses destroyed                            
                                                                    
       3.  The President has assigned the Ministry of Interior to   
       be responsible  for coordination of the relief               
       activities. Government has dispatched 80 heavy duty          
       machines, ambulances, medical                                
       equipment, fuel and other items of needs to the area.        
                                                                    
       4.  2,000 relief workers from Government services, the       
       Armed Forces, the Red Crescent Society of                    
       Iran, other relief agencies and the local communities,       
       organized into 45 operational teams, are                     
       assisting in the relief operations.  Assistance so far       
       provided by the RCS and state organizations                  
       includes 2,200 tents, 5,800 blankets, 740 heaters and 40     
       tons of  food  items. Three helicopters are                  
       assisting the operation. Snow and below zero temperatures    
       are affecting the rescue operations to                       
       some degree.                                                 
                                                                    
       5.   A UN Assessment Team was dispatched from the UN office  
        in Mashhad, and their initial report                        
       confirms the above information.                              
                                                                    
       6.  No international appeal has been made, but the           
       Government of Iran has indicated to the UN                   
       Resident Coordinator that humanitatian assistance would be   
       appreciated. The preferred assistance                        
       could be a cash contribution and/or supply of tents,         
       blankets, new warm clothing, rice, cooking oil,              
       pulses and other food items. Assistance may be channeled     
       through DHA-Geneva or directly through                       
       the UN Office of the Resident Coordinator in Iran.           
                                                                    
       7.  On 5 February DHA-Geneva released US Dollar 20,000.00    
       as an emergency grant, for local                             
       purchase of relief supplies.                                 
                                                                    
       8.  DHA is prepared to serve as a channel for cash           
       contributions to be used during the immediate                
       relief phase. Funds are spent in coordination with relevant  
        organizations of the UN system, and DHA                     
       provides donor Governments with written confirmation on      
       utilization of funds contributed.                            
                                                                    
       9.  Funds should be transferred to DHA account no: CO. 590.  
       160.1 at Swiss Bank  Corporation, Case                       
       Postale 2770, CH-1211 Geneva 2, with reference: Iran         
       Earthquake, DHA-Geneva.                                      
                                                                    
       10.      For coordination purposes, donors are requested to  
        inform DHA-Geneva, as indicated below,                      
       of bilateral relief missions/pledges/contributions and       
       their corresponding value by item.                           
                                                                    
       Telephone No. +41-22-917.12.34                               
       In case of emergency only: +41-22-917.20.10                  
       Desk Officer: Mr. G. Andreassen, direct Tel. +41-22-917.32.  
       39                                                           
       Press to contact: Ms. M. Moulin-Acevedo, direct Tel. + 41-   
       22-917.28.56                                                 
       Telex: 414242 dha ch                                         
       Fax: + 41-22-917.00.23                                       
       E.Mail: dhagva@dha.unicc.org                              
                                                                    
                                                                    

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