Bam quake: Did Iranian govt hamper relief?
Mat BulogPublished: Jan 18, 2005 1:46 PM | Updated: Jan 29, 2008 6:21 PM
I refer to the letter Iranian quake victims didn't get much Western aid.
Several websites that had information on this tragedy did not specifically state that Western countries refused to assist Iran. It is a bit unfair to paint all the Western countries as failing to aid Iran.
Records indicate rather high levels of aid from US and continuing aid to this day from Red Cross and Red Crescent organisations and that difficulties in dealing with Iranian protocol to provide aid hindered distributing the aid supplies.
This website provides interesting information on some US and UN sponsored aid to Iran. Other websites show that many Iranian communities in Western countries provided aid independently of national government assistance.
There will always be those who say that any amount of aid is not enough, any amount of food or clothing, etc. is not on target, not sufficient, that deficiencies exist. No rescue mission goes perfectly. Remember, the Bam earthquake was a catastrophe. It was not a new construction project where critics can point fingers about not sticking to 'the plan'.
A report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs notes many difficulties, but does not mention a general lack of will on the part of Western nations, or any nation for that matter, to lend assistance to Iran. Two excerpts of the report are interesting:
'At the same time, it was recognised that the government of Iran lacks, in the framework of its Task Forces system for disaster management, an institutional capacity specifically dedicated to interacting with international actors.'
And,
'More effective mechanisms should be available to decline offers for assistance and/or prevent unwanted assistance from reaching the country.'
The second quote is interesting - having better mechanisms to decline aid. Early news reports stated Iran accepted aid from the US in the form of relief supplies, but declined any help from US-based humanitarian institutions.
Iran made their choice in that regard, something they are free to do. Nothing appears to have been withheld.
Making accusations against Western nations for not fully aiding the people of Bam does not get to the heart of the matter. Tossing charges of hypocrisy about is somewhat juvenile. There is no doubt that things could have been better. But using such a broad brush to paint some people as not doing their humanitarian duty is unfair, even to the good people of Bam.
Malaysia's response to the recent tsunami disaster is nothing short of wonderful. Malaysia can be very proud of itself in that regard. There is nothing wrong with non-Muslim nations helping Muslim nations and vice versa. Help is help. The source does not matter.
It does not do any good to point fingers at some nations for not responding as fast as Malaysia or other nations. All nations have different levels of capability to respond. The disaster is not over yet; so possibly, future aid will come from places in the world that were not there first when the tragedy occurred. It's too early to start slinging blame.
In conclusion, the tragedy at Bam was bad. The conditions there are still bad. The spotlight is on the tsunami victims now, so attention moves to the more recent event. There is evidence that actual contributions to Bam have been somewhat short of pledged amounts.
Several websites that had information on this tragedy did not specifically state that Western countries refused to assist Iran. It is a bit unfair to paint all the Western countries as failing to aid Iran.
Records indicate rather high levels of aid from US and continuing aid to this day from Red Cross and Red Crescent organisations and that difficulties in dealing with Iranian protocol to provide aid hindered distributing the aid supplies.
This website provides interesting information on some US and UN sponsored aid to Iran. Other websites show that many Iranian communities in Western countries provided aid independently of national government assistance.
There will always be those who say that any amount of aid is not enough, any amount of food or clothing, etc. is not on target, not sufficient, that deficiencies exist. No rescue mission goes perfectly. Remember, the Bam earthquake was a catastrophe. It was not a new construction project where critics can point fingers about not sticking to 'the plan'.
A report from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs notes many difficulties, but does not mention a general lack of will on the part of Western nations, or any nation for that matter, to lend assistance to Iran. Two excerpts of the report are interesting:
'At the same time, it was recognised that the government of Iran lacks, in the framework of its Task Forces system for disaster management, an institutional capacity specifically dedicated to interacting with international actors.'
And,
'More effective mechanisms should be available to decline offers for assistance and/or prevent unwanted assistance from reaching the country.'
The second quote is interesting - having better mechanisms to decline aid. Early news reports stated Iran accepted aid from the US in the form of relief supplies, but declined any help from US-based humanitarian institutions.
Iran made their choice in that regard, something they are free to do. Nothing appears to have been withheld.
Making accusations against Western nations for not fully aiding the people of Bam does not get to the heart of the matter. Tossing charges of hypocrisy about is somewhat juvenile. There is no doubt that things could have been better. But using such a broad brush to paint some people as not doing their humanitarian duty is unfair, even to the good people of Bam.
Malaysia's response to the recent tsunami disaster is nothing short of wonderful. Malaysia can be very proud of itself in that regard. There is nothing wrong with non-Muslim nations helping Muslim nations and vice versa. Help is help. The source does not matter.
It does not do any good to point fingers at some nations for not responding as fast as Malaysia or other nations. All nations have different levels of capability to respond. The disaster is not over yet; so possibly, future aid will come from places in the world that were not there first when the tragedy occurred. It's too early to start slinging blame.
In conclusion, the tragedy at Bam was bad. The conditions there are still bad. The spotlight is on the tsunami victims now, so attention moves to the more recent event. There is evidence that actual contributions to Bam have been somewhat short of pledged amounts.
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