Bam Earthquake Emergency Coordinating Committee
News Release 1
December 29, 2003
The people of
Bam must continue to receive worldwide support
The immense human tragedy unfolding in Bam and surrounding villages in south-eastern Iran has shocked and saddened people all over the world. Every hour, innumerable others are added to the tens of thousands of dead and the tens of thousands of wounded. Numerous survivors still have no access to food, shelter or medical care. Many of the 100,000 people who have been made homeless are sleeping on the rough in sub-zero conditions. Undoubtedly, these unimaginable figures will continue to rise. The catastrophe brought to every home via our television screens is already being recorded as one of the worst in recent history. The Bam Earthquake Emergency Coordinating Committee, which has been established to ensure that the people of Bam are not forgotten, gives its deepest condolences to the people of Iran and particularly the survivors of the Bam tragedy.
While it was an earthquake, which measured 6.3 on the Richter scale that struck the sleeping population in the early morning hours of Friday, December 26, the real reasons for the catastrophe must be sought out elsewhere. An earthquake of similar magnitude struck California several days ago with vastly different consequences. Witness upon witness and news report upon report point to the same culprit: the Islamic Republic of Iran; its poor building methods, its lack of proper regulations, its disregard for enforcing available regulations, corruption, as well as its refusal to heed recommendations made by a series of inquiries following the 1990 earthquake in north-west Iran, which killed 50,000. Moreover, in addition to several massive earthquakes in the past, there have been regular tremors killing hundreds and injuring thousands each year and still nothing substantial has been done. The regime's corruption, ineptitude, late and chaotic response, and utter disregard for people's lives and safety are clearly responsible for the many dead and wounded. The Bam Earthquake Emergency Coordinating Committee unequivocally condemns the Islamic Republic of Iran for this catastrophe.
In the face of this human tragedy, however, the outpouring of support and solidarity shown by the people of Iran and the world has been immense. This support will be instrumental in saving and rebuilding the lives of the devastated survivors. The Bam Earthquake Emergency Coordinating Committee calls on the people of Iran and the world to continue their support and solidarity in the face of this calamity:
1. Send financial donations to the Red Cross, UNICEF, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and other reputable organisations providing humanitarian and relief work. Some of their bank account can be located on www.reliefweb.int. People can provide these organisations with donations through The Bam Earthquake Emergency Coordinating Committee should they choose. Donations must be earmarked 'BAM Emergency Fund'. Donations should not be sent to accounts provided by the Islamic Republic of Iran, particularly because of its track record of corruption, embezzlement of emergency aid and its ineptitude and chaotic response to this catastrophe. Moreover, the people of Iran mistrust and loathe the authorities. International organisations are better equipped and able to handle this crisis.
2. Send in-kind donations to these organisations. Most urgently needed items are medicines, emergency first aid kits, surgical trauma kits, obstetric kits, resuscitation kits, fracture fixture, fog generator and environmental sanitation material, disinfectants, tents, plastic sheeting, kitchen sets, stoves for heating and cooking, blankets and food and water supplies.
3. Exert pressure on the Islamic regime of Iran to use all available resources to immediately provide shelter, food, medical care and full social benefits to survivors. Particular attention must be given to the massive human consequences of this tragedy including meeting the full needs of the internally displaced, orphans, children, elderly and women.
4. Exert pressure on the regime so as to prevent it from obstructing people's presence and support. People have already formed groups to give aid to the survivors. The Bam Earthquake Emergency Coordinating Committee calls on people to continue these forms of assistance in a more organised and extensive manner independent of the regime. In situations where the regime obstructs people's presence and support, we call on people to protest and force the regime's retreat.
5. Exert pressure on the Islamic regime of Iran to ensure that humanitarian aid and reconstruction is led by international NGOs, and that they and their personnel - both men and women alike - are given full access to the area and survivors. Also, international organisations must be allowed to fully monitor all assistance provided. The public must be given full financial accounting of all monies spent.
6. Call for an international inquiry into the real and non-natural causes of this extensive human tragedy, particularly the Islamic regime of Iran's utter neglect in creating adequate housing during its past 25 year rule and its imposition of desperate poverty on the masses. Also its complete disregard for people's lives and safety, late and chaotic response to this tragedy, poor building methods, lack of proper regulations, as well as its refusal to heed recommendations made by a series of inquiries following the 1990 earthquake in north-west Iran.
7. Exert pressure on the Islamic regime of Iran to review construction laws and standards and implement recommendations made for earthquake prone zones in Iran by inquiries.
8. Call for the full and immediate compensation of all survivors.
Bam Earthquake Emergency Coordinating Committee
Committee Members: Maryam Namazie (Coordinator), Mina Ahadi, Asad Golchini, Bahram Modaresi, Esmail Moloodi, Mehrnoush Moosavi, Kazem Nikkhah, Fariborz Pooya, Nahid Riyazi, and Halaleh Taheri.
BM Box 8927, London WC1N 3XX, England,
Tel: +44 (0) 07719166731, Fax: +44 (0) 870 1351338, E-mail:
bameecc@ukonline.co.uk.