Balance Requested from ACT Network:
US$ 599,794

The earthquake in Bam that left behind 26,000 casualties, 75,600 homeless and 5,204 orphans is approaching its first anniversary.

Almost one year after the earthquake, the general situation can be characterised as that of transition from recovery to longer-term rehabilitation and reconstruction. The most important reconstruction activity to take place now is the rebuilding of the city of Bam itself. Iranian authorities opted to first engage in the reconstruction of destroyed or damaged houses in the rural areas while working on the formulation of a Master Plan for the city of Bam, which has been recently completed. In total, 25,000 housing units (of 60 – 120m²) will be constructed. Iranian authorities hope that international NGOs and aid agencies will take responsibility for 3,000 – 4,000 housing units in Bam.

ACT members who have responded to the life-saving needs in Bam, Iran are Norwegian Church Aid (NCA), Hungarian Baptist Aid (HBAid) and ACT Netherlands/Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (ACTNL/PDA). They have all also got involved in reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in Bam, which, given the bureaucracy-related obstacles on the ground, may take several years to complete.

This revised appeal includes ACTNL/PDA’s updated and extended proposal consisting of new elements as follows:

• construction of shelters for female-headed households
• technical advise on urban shelter construction
• water/sanitation
• construction of a treatment center for substance abusers
• publication of the ACT psycho-social manual in Persian
• photography activities for children and youth

The program of HBAid was closed in September 2004, while NCA’s program is approaching its official closure on 31 December 2004. For information on their programs, please refer to the original ACT appeal MEIN-42 and its first Revision.

Project Completion Date:

NCA – 31 December 2004

PDA/ACT NL - 30 July 2005

HBAid – 31 August 2004 (closed)

* oversubscribed

**the balance will not be requested due to the program closure

Jenny Borden
Interim Director, ACT Co-ordinating Office