The deadly earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter Scale that struck the ancient Iranian city of Bam in the early morning of December 26 has swept away the mud-brick structures of the city, raising the death toll to some 25,000 people. The final number is still unknown as search and rescue operations continue. Officials have said that the death toll could rise to 40,000, which is half the city’s population of 80,000. A number of countries have rendered rapid assistance to Iran – equipment, relief items, humanpower and expertise have been pouring into the country since the disaster struck on Friday. However, in a crisis of such a magnitude, meeting immediate needs of tens of thousands of survivors who are equally vulnerable - as well as coordinating the response – remains the biggest challenge of all.

To respond to the situation, the ACT Coordinating Office has established contact with its implementing and funding members who all have expressed interest in providing assistance and support. The Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) and Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) were the first to mobilize resources and deploy personnel into the country, along with moving emergency relief items into the disaster area. Diakonie Emergency Aid, Hungarian Interchurch Aid, Hungarian Baptist Aid, UMCOR and CWS have all deployed (or are about to) assessment teams into Iran to assess the urgent needs of the population. The ACT Coordinating Office has released $50,000 from its Rapid Response Fund to the MECC for rapid assistance through blankets, tents, water tanks and medicines. DanChurchAid and Church World Service have already pledged funds to the MECC for this purpose.

To enable ACT members to respond more forcefully to the urgent needs in the areas of emergency shelter, water supply and distribution of relief items, the ACT Coordinating Office seeks to raise funds through this preliminary appeal. At this initial stage, number of operational implementing members will be limited to two – the MECC and NCA, who are participating in the appeal. The ACT Coordinating Office has already started discussion with other members interested in participating in the response. At this stage, particular attention will be paid to information sharing and coordination of assessment missions so as to avoid confusion and duplication.

By this appeal, the MECC and NCA seek urgent financial support, which will enable them to provide the following:

- emergency distribution of food and non-food items
- emergency water supply
- emergency shelter
- psychosocial assistance

TOTAL REQUESTED FROM THE ALLIANCE: $524,000

MECC: $100,000

NCA: $424,000

(N.B. This Appeal will be revised/finalized next week upon receipt of more information.)

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Middle East Council of Churches (MECC)

MECC is closely monitoring developments in the city of Bam, southeast Iran, following the deadly earthquake. The mud-brick structures of the city have suffered extreme destruction, and the death count continues to rise. The Iranian Minister of Interior estimated on December 28 that the death toll would likely exceed 20,000 people and the injured your number much more. This disaster is especially devastating as it comes amid winter weather and temperatures that regularly drop below freezing. This is especially critical for those who have lost their homes as well as those who fear that homes still standing may have suffered structural damage and could tumble without warning.

The MECC is in close contact with the ACT Coordinating Office (ACT CO) and numerous partner agencies in order to respond as quickly as possible to the needs.

As far as MECC capacity on the ground, it is cooperating with its member churches in Iran, the Iranian Red Crescent as well as government officials, and has arranged for one MECC staff member from Beirut to travel to Iran to coordinate the effort between Iran and Beirut. It may be necessary to deploy other personnel as well.

Following an initial assessment by an emergency MECC team on the ground, and consultations between the headquarters and the field, the MECC will seek to cover the needs as follows:

- tents: $ 55,000
- blankets: $ 15,000
- water tanks (20-50 l): $ 11,000
- food and cooking oil: $ 14,000
- transportation: $ 3,000
- administration: $ 2,000

TOTAL: $ 100,000

These items will be purchased in Teheran, transported immediately to the disaster area and distributed within the coming days.

The MECC will continue to update ACT and partners on the situation based on information received from the contacts on the ground.

BANK ACCOUNT INFORMATION

The Middle East Council of Churches
Account number: 003-074473-100
HSBC Bank – Middle East
Hamra Branch – Ras Beirut
Beirut, Lebanon
Swift Code: BBMELBBX

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Norwegian Church Aid (NCA)

NCA is working in close cooperation with Norwegian Red Cross. The Iranian Red Crescent coordinates all emergency assistance together with the Iranian government and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. NCA will therefore coordinate the assistance with the Iranian red Crescent. Close cooperation will be also established with the MECC.

At the initial emergency phase, NCA seeks to respond as follows:

• provide shelter to 4,000 persons in the city of Bam
• provide emergency water assistance to the most needy in Bam
• train/support 20-30 resource persons identified by the MECC and NCA to assist the population with community based psycho-social assistance

All programs will target survivors, especially vulnerable individuals and families, women and children, disabled. The shelter program will assist some 4,000 people; water/sanitation will benefit some 50,000 (drinking water only – 5 l/person/day); the psychosocial assistance program will train 20-30 resource personnel – a tentative plan will be discussed with Church of Sweden and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (USA) with whom NCA has special cooperation in the field of psychosocial programs.

Shelter

NCA will transport and erect 400 family-sized tents, each accommodating 10 people. The tents are of high quality and can be used for several years. Price per unit is $1,000. Experiences from similar situations elsewhere show that it takes time to reconstruct or build new houses, where tents prove to be a good solution for they are weather proof and can resist temperature changes.

Once on the ground, the tents will be in the custody of Norwegian Red Cross. An NCA engineer will have accompanied the tents from Amman to Bam and will assist with the erection of the tents and stoves. Beneficiaries will be identified in close cooperation with the Iranian Red Crescent.

The tents will be sent by air from Amman to Bam on December 31. NCA will cover the transportation cost of the flight which will also carry kitchen sets and blankets set by the MECC to the disaster area. The tents will be distributed by in collaboration with the Red Crescent and OCHA (OCHA has asked for particularly these tents).

Water/Sanitation

Recent reports indicate an urgent need for clean drinking water. The exact needs are still unclear, and NCA’s water coordinator is already on the ground in Bam, working together with Red Cross/Red Crescent and OCHA on defining the need for emergency water intervention. However, based on already available information, we have put forward following assumptions:

1. Water resources – Identify springs that supply wells, arrange of taking out of water. Cleaning when needed – Rehabilitate damaged springs and wells
2. Supply systems to town – Transport water to the town with tanker or on trucks – Rehabilitate canals
3. Supply system in town – establish pillow tanks and tap stations in town – Rehabilitate pipeline structures
4. Sanitation installations – Establish temporary installations (if needed) – Rehabilitate existing systems

NCA Strategy – the focus will remain on emergency assistance, installing emergency equipment and training in use of this equipment. At present, it is not planning on establishing a long-term program in Bam. This strategy will be subject to review in the coming months as needs and ACT involvement become more clear.

• deploy a person for an assessment/coordination purposes ASAP (already on location)
• send (eventually) the equipment and project personnel for implementation

Estimated duration of this activity is 4-6 weeks.

Community based Psychosocial Assistance

In cooperation with the ACT Alliance, NCA will assist in training/supporting local resource personnel for this type of work. As soon as we have more information from the field, discussions will start with CSA and PDA. Personnel is ready to deploy. Pending the reports from the field, this activity may well start in a few weeks time. Close cooperation will be sought with MECC or churches in Iran.

Estimated duration is this program is 3-4 months.

FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS (Summary)* - USD

Expenditure

Shelter: 466,000
Emergency Water Supply: 380,000
Psychosocial Assistance: 68,000

Total: 914,000

Income

MFA: 466,000
NCA own funds: 24,000

Total Balance on Hand: 490,000

Balance requested from the ACT Alliance: 424,000

*more detailed budget can be obtained from the Coordinating office

BUDGET SUMMARY:

NCA: 424,000
MECC: 100,000

TOTAL REQUESTED: 524,000

Signed by:
Thor-Arne Prois
Director, ACT International