FED: Aid agencies scramble to help in Bam

AAP General News (Australia)
12-30-2003
FED: Aid agencies scramble to help in Bam

By Alex Wilson

SYDNEY, Dec 30 AAP - An aid worker in the earthquake ravaged Iranian city of Bam has
described the frantic situation and rising tent city there as international agencies scramble
to help survivors.

World Vision's regional relief director for the Middle East Ton Van Zutphen, who flew
in to Bam last night, said the devastation was terrible.

"It is very clear that the city has been flattened completely," Mr Van Zutphen said today.

"There are tents everywhere and people sitting outside their tents in the cold, it's
five below zero during the night."

Up to 30,000 people are believed to have been killed after an earthquake measuring
6.6 on the Richter scale hit the ancient mud city 1,000 km south east of the capital Tehran
on Friday.

Mr Van Zutphen said the focus of operations had turned from search and rescue to the
removal of the dead bodies to prevent the spread of disease.

"It's a good thing that it's cold, so we are not expecting diseases immediately - when
it starts raining, that's a different matter," he said.

Mr Van Zutphen said there were about 20,000 tents on the way to house an estimated
80,000 people left homeless by the quake.

Aid agencies were setting up at the military camp in Bam, but getting goods into the
area of need and coordinating the effort was still difficult.

"Everything is very much in a turmoil," he said.

Landing aircraft at Bam was dangerous as the power was out, so much of the aid was
being flown into the nearby city of Kerman and brought in by road.

Mr Van Zutphen said the road between Kerman and Bam was now jammed with traffic, slowing
the 150km journey down to 15 hours.

"You can imagine it's a sort of chaos in which everybody seeks to find his or her own
way," he said.

"It's only a few days after the quake and everybody is running in different directions,
and I hope that within three or four days this will become a more coordinated effort."

The mental impact of such a devastating event would have a lasting effect on the population,
he said.

"The whole city has been devastated so there will be trauma for the people for years
to come," Mr Van Zutphen said.

"But on the other hand the Iranians have a very extended network and they help each
other, so I do hope that over the next year we will see an improved situation."

World Vision was flying in two cargo planes loaded with tents, blankets, water bottles
and medicine in the next few days, he said.

In the long term they would consult with the Iranian authorities and offer to help
rebuild schools and infrastructure and run health clinics.

World Vision in Australia has received more than 5,000 calls offering help and collected
$350,000.

They are appealing for further donations to help bolster relief efforts.

AAP apw/kbw/tma/jlw

KEYWORD: QUAKE IRAN VISION

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