Dian
01-03-2004, 08:49 AM
Maybe a Higher Power is trying to bring about world peace in a way
that war never can.
http://www.iranian.ws/iran_news/publish/article_1167.shtml
Iranians thank the world for its help
By
Jan 2, 2004, 23:44
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Iran news - The 6.3-magnitude quake that jolted the Silk Road city of
Bam in southeastern Iran last Friday brought the historic city and its
2,200-year-old mud-brick citadel, said to be the largest structure of
its kind in the world, to nearly total destruction
The timing of the event -- just before dawn when most people were
sleeping -- added to the calamity, causing entire families in an area
of 200,000 to be trapped under the rubble.
The scope of the human tragedy in this city some 600 miles from Tehran
was enormous: a death toll of at least 30,000, with an equal number
injured and more than 100,000 made homeless.
However, what has made this natural disaster different from similar
ones in Iran -- a country prone to major tremors -- has been not only
the immense impact it has had on the Iranians but the outstanding
reaction from the world community.
Not more than a few hours after the world came to know of the disaster
swift pledges of aid arrived, even from nations with poor ties or no
diplomatic relations with the Islamic republic.
Governments and aid organizations around the globe mobilized rescue
teams, search dogs, emergency relief supplies and detection equipment.
From Japan to the United States, from South Africa to South Korea,
from Switzerland, Germany, Italy, China, the Czech Republic, Russia,
Turkey, Armenia and even beyond, teams of rescuers rushed in to
assist.
Muslim and Arab countries contributed greatly, with Iran's six Arab
Persian Gulf neighbors alone pledging a generous sum of $400 million
for the victims of the killer quake.
Over 120 foreign planes carrying humanitarian aid have landed in Iran
from about four dozen countries.
International organizations such as the Red Cross, the United Nations
and the European Commission have made their share of contributions.
U.S. military planes, which began arriving during the weekend, were
the first to land in Iran since the 1981 hostage crisis.
The Belgian defense minister reviewed the rescue operations by his
countrymen at the quake site, and Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gol was to pay a short visit to the area on Friday.
"The disaster is far too huge for us to meet all of our needs,"
President Mohammad Khatami said last Friday when he announced three
days of mourning, which are virtually still continuing nationwide.
The Iranian government waived visa requirements for foreign relief
workers and opened the country's airspace to relief aid by
international organizations and foreign countries.
As some analysts put it, the people of the world stood by each other
to alleviate the pain of the catastrophe.
In a show of gratitude, survivors of the devastating earthquake,
though overwhelmed with grief, thanked the foreign rescue teams by
giving them small bouquets of roses and symbolic gifts such as
pistachio nuts and Iranian engravings on the eve of the New Year -- an
act that astonished the relief workers.
In his message to international rescue teams, Iran's Foreign Minister
Kamal Kharrazi welcomed the country's guests "who have rushed to Bam
from different countries to help other human beings" and wished them a
year ahead full of happiness and prosperity.
"Your presence in Bam in such a difficult situation, at a time when
you were supposed to celebrate the New Year with your families at home
proves that, despite all terrorism and violence, the jewels of
humanity are still shining in the depth of the souls of all human
beings," he said, according to Iranian Mehr News Agency.
© Iranian.ws
that war never can.
http://www.iranian.ws/iran_news/publish/article_1167.shtml
Iranians thank the world for its help
By
Jan 2, 2004, 23:44
Email this article
Printer friendly page
Iran news - The 6.3-magnitude quake that jolted the Silk Road city of
Bam in southeastern Iran last Friday brought the historic city and its
2,200-year-old mud-brick citadel, said to be the largest structure of
its kind in the world, to nearly total destruction
The timing of the event -- just before dawn when most people were
sleeping -- added to the calamity, causing entire families in an area
of 200,000 to be trapped under the rubble.
The scope of the human tragedy in this city some 600 miles from Tehran
was enormous: a death toll of at least 30,000, with an equal number
injured and more than 100,000 made homeless.
However, what has made this natural disaster different from similar
ones in Iran -- a country prone to major tremors -- has been not only
the immense impact it has had on the Iranians but the outstanding
reaction from the world community.
Not more than a few hours after the world came to know of the disaster
swift pledges of aid arrived, even from nations with poor ties or no
diplomatic relations with the Islamic republic.
Governments and aid organizations around the globe mobilized rescue
teams, search dogs, emergency relief supplies and detection equipment.
From Japan to the United States, from South Africa to South Korea,
from Switzerland, Germany, Italy, China, the Czech Republic, Russia,
Turkey, Armenia and even beyond, teams of rescuers rushed in to
assist.
Muslim and Arab countries contributed greatly, with Iran's six Arab
Persian Gulf neighbors alone pledging a generous sum of $400 million
for the victims of the killer quake.
Over 120 foreign planes carrying humanitarian aid have landed in Iran
from about four dozen countries.
International organizations such as the Red Cross, the United Nations
and the European Commission have made their share of contributions.
U.S. military planes, which began arriving during the weekend, were
the first to land in Iran since the 1981 hostage crisis.
The Belgian defense minister reviewed the rescue operations by his
countrymen at the quake site, and Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah
Gol was to pay a short visit to the area on Friday.
"The disaster is far too huge for us to meet all of our needs,"
President Mohammad Khatami said last Friday when he announced three
days of mourning, which are virtually still continuing nationwide.
The Iranian government waived visa requirements for foreign relief
workers and opened the country's airspace to relief aid by
international organizations and foreign countries.
As some analysts put it, the people of the world stood by each other
to alleviate the pain of the catastrophe.
In a show of gratitude, survivors of the devastating earthquake,
though overwhelmed with grief, thanked the foreign rescue teams by
giving them small bouquets of roses and symbolic gifts such as
pistachio nuts and Iranian engravings on the eve of the New Year -- an
act that astonished the relief workers.
In his message to international rescue teams, Iran's Foreign Minister
Kamal Kharrazi welcomed the country's guests "who have rushed to Bam
from different countries to help other human beings" and wished them a
year ahead full of happiness and prosperity.
"Your presence in Bam in such a difficult situation, at a time when
you were supposed to celebrate the New Year with your families at home
proves that, despite all terrorism and violence, the jewels of
humanity are still shining in the depth of the souls of all human
beings," he said, according to Iranian Mehr News Agency.
© Iranian.ws
