IRAN EARTHQUAKE : Congregations urged to make a special offering

9 January 2004

Christian World Service, of the National Council of Churches in Australia, invites congregations to make an extra special offering for the people of Bam, on Sunday 22 February – please be generous for the Iran earthquake survivors.

In one way, I was lucky," Miriam says as she protects her children from the ruins of their house. "I have lost many things, but all my children survived." Credit: Hege Opseth, Norwegian Church Aid/ACT

Before the earthquake, Mohammed had many things - a large family, a girlfriend, many friends, a neighbourhood he liked, a job, two cars and a motorbike. Now it is all gone, and he can't even find the grave of his girlfriend. "I am not able to think of the future," he says. Credit: Hege Opseth, Norwegian Church Aid/ACT

An immediate response to the initial assessment of the emergency team from the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC) of the needs of the people of Bam has already been made by Christian World Service. 

“Thanks to the generosity of supporters of the Christmas Bowl, $20,000 was sent to Action by Churches Together International as soon as the relief specialists had met with church leaders and discussed post-crisis assistance.  The rebuilding of houses, schools, dispensaries and hospitals especially is a major concern”, said Mr Caesar D’Mello, National Director of CWS. 

According to His Excellency, Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, Primate of the Armenian Prelacy of Tehran and a member of the MECC’s Executive Committee, the number of casualties is around 52 000 people dead and more than 60 000 injured (7 January 2004).

The MECC is closely monitoring developments in Bam, following the deadly earthquake in the midst of winter weather and temperatures that regularly drop below freezing – it is especially critical for people who have lost homes and those who fear to stay in damaged buildings which could tumble at any time.

Emergency relief food supplies, including 15,120 cans of tinned food, 13,664 cans of cooking oil and 3 812 cans of tinned fish were delivered, together with 830 tents, in the first week of January – $100 will support one person with shelter and food at this critical time.  

There is a continuing urgent need for tents, blankets, water tanks, food, and cooking oil, all of which can be purchased in Teheran as soon as possible. Additional funds are urgently needed – all contributions are tax deductible. 

Give via telephone 1800 025 101, our secure site www.ncca.org.au
or send to Locked Bag 199 Sydney 1230

_______________________
Information/ Colleen Hodge - Education and Communications Programs
Photographs: Christian World Service - The National Council of Churches in Australia
Telephones 02 9299 2215/0419 6852 48/1800 025 101
Email colleenhodge@ncca.org.au

Despite devastation, hope still lives on street of dreams
From Hege Opseth in Iran (ACT International/Norwegian Church Aid) – January 2004

 On a street where a row of houses once stood, tents are now lined up. The street used to house families and their dreams, many of which were destroyed by the earthquake on December 26. Yet the city lives on.

Before the earthquake levelled much of his city, Akhbar's guesthouse stood in the centre of the street and was a meeting place for neighbours. Now, all that remains of the life Akhbar and his family led is one remaining wall of their home and a mess of twisted beds.

"Running a guesthouse was my dream, to welcome guests from all over the world and show them our rich cultural heritage and our country."
 
Following the quake, Akhbar managed to dig out and save the lives of seven people. His son, Mohammed, was buried in the ruins of their house for hours. He survived, but his best friend, who was sleeping next to him, died.

"I was sleeping when the earthquake struck," Mohammed recalls. "And I still feel like I am sleeping, just having a nightmare that will be over soon. It is too unreal. Too many are dead - family members, my girlfriend and friends." He can't even find his girlfriend's grave.

Mohammed had a promising future ahead of him. He loved working at his father's guesthouse, which he was to take over one day. He describes it as "my whole life, my love and my future. "Now, I am not able to think of the future."

Near their ruined guesthouse, Akhbar and Mohammed have acquired tents in which to live. There is no shower, no toilet and nothing to keep them warm during the cold nights. Nevertheless, they are alive, and so are their dreams of running a guest house.

"Now I have put up a tent across the street," Akhbar said, "There I still wish guests welcome."

Outside is a makeshift memorial of flowers and pictures of neighbours who died in the quake. Many people stop, looking fearfully for faces they know. On what is left of the entrance, residents have painted a sign that says “Bam lives”.

 A hundred metres away, another family is searching the ruins of their home. Several families sit in their tents along the street. Some families lost five children. Others lost three.

Masomee, a young girl, lost her parents. On the morning of the quake, she was sleeping in the room next to the kitchen with the rest of her family. "I got buried up to my waist. It took three and a half hours before they managed to get me out. Next to me were my dead parents," Masomee said.

Only rubble remains of Masool's home. His parents and four other family members were killed. The refrigerator still contains eggs, untouched by the earthquake. They are a reminder of the randomness of the destruction the quake caused.

Miriam, was saved by her brother-in-law. "I came here as soon as I could after the earthquake. We were digging in the ruins for hours. We managed to save Miriam," he said.

Miriam wears a mask to keep out the dust. She is shaking, and the tears stream down her cheeks when she speaks of what happened. She is sitting in the ruins, feeding baby Hedyeh, which means gift. Her other daughter, Hadis, plays with an old camera she found in the ruins, blissfully ignorant of what has taken place.

"In one way I was lucky," Miriam said. "I have lost many, but all my children survived."

The family has attended funeral after funeral during the past week. Together with more than 30,000 others, relatives who were killed are buried in a mass grave outside the city centre.