December 26, 2003
Earthquake in Iran
The estimate for casualties range from 5,000 to 20,000. So far over 4,000 deaths are confirmed but numbers are escalating rapidly. A relatively strong earthquake devastated southeastern province of Kerman last night, destroying the historical city of Bam in the process. This isn't the right time and place to discuss why isn't enough done to prepare building across Iran for the inevitable earthquakes. After all, the California shake of last week was almost as powerful and caused only limited damage and 2 deaths. We will have plenty of time to argue about those points. For now what is badly needed is emergency relief.
Lat time I was in Iran in mid 90's, you could still BUY tents with Red Cross stencil on them that was sent to Iran for the last large earthquake earlier in that decade. They were brand new and sold at private stores. Obviously they were never used for their intended purpose and now someone was making money from them. This only highlights the serious concerns some have about the integrity of Iranian Red Crescent society, Red Cross's cousin organization that is unfortunately run under governmental influence.
A few bloggers are right now searching for other ways to collect some donations and send them via means, where it actually gets directly to he victims and doesn't line-up pockets of another connected fat cat. I will keep you updated on that effort within the next day or so.
Meanwhile, prey if you are religious, meditate if you're spiritual, send positive vibes if you are neither. Whatever you do, keep these victims from one of the most underprivileged and deprived region of Iran in your thoughts today and think of ways to send them some help.
UPDATE - I personally would not give a penny to Red Cross. Nothing against them, but their functioning arm in Iran is the Red Crescent Society which is known for corruption and fraud, just as most governmental organizations in Iran are. We will find other ways.
UPDATE - Aside from the human casualties, the old structure of Arg-e Bam, one of heritage sites recognized by the UN, an old city on the ancient Silk Road and the oldest mud structure surviving in the world has been completley destroyed as the early reports indicate. Very sad indeed.... I have some personal pictures of Bam I will try to put up somewhere, here is more on it's history.
UPDATE - Have been doing some more research on this as a few bloggers wanted to start a fund and were busy finding suitable NGO's inside Iran to give the money to, but apparently for those of us in USA to attempt to send donations through other means may be a violation of sanctions and subject to prosecution. In short, we aren't free to decide how our donations are spent. Red Cross (unfortunately) may be our only choice, although I have already contacted other charities such as Doctors Without Borders to see if they are able to handle the aid directly and not hand all the donations over to the Iranian government. Just in case I wasn't clear already, let me state that I have nothing negative to say about Red Cross and believe most of the Red Crescent people are also honest, compassionate people. But as a government entity, those with the influence and power to control the collected funds, are naturally proven cohorts of a corrupt and fraud-plagued system, and as an example of their misdeeds, you can look at my tent story above.
UPDATE - Some sources are reporting death tolls as high as 40,000 but so far it appears that about 20,000 are confirmed. The pictures are just heart wrenching. I am contacting more people regarding donations including Mercy Corps who appear to have their own presence in Iran. Will let you know.
UPDATE - I have it confirmed. Just spoke to the program director at Mercy Corps and she read me the confirmations straight from their VP that their own team of five has already landed in the Iranian city of Zahedan and they will be overlooking the job of spending all the donations, everything from distributing blankets, medicine and more all the way to allocating rebuilding money directly and no money will be transfered to any agent or employees of the Iranian government. I am sending my own donation through them and hope you do too.
Posted by Pedram at December 26, 2003 08:33 AM
Pedram, Here's the best donation information I could find:
National Iranian American Council: Due to the sanctions, it is difficult for Iranian Americans to send help to Iran. As a result, the National Iranian American Council is working with the American Red Cross to set up an Iran Earthquake Fund. Subsequently NIAC has an agreement with the American Red Cross that all the money NIAC collects will be used for Iranian earthquake victims only. To donate please visit their website: http://www.niacouncil.org or donate via the American Red Cross by clicking here. Make sure and select "INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE FUND"
Posted by: Nema at December 26, 2003 10:19 AMunfortunately (perhaps this is just being cynical about the situation) i think that most of the monetary help that is going to be sent be it from people or foreign governments, will most likely NOT end up helping the victims. there are ALWAYS heartless middle men involved which even in a situation as grave as this one think first about themselves and their pockets and what they can gain out of this. I hope that i'm in fact just being too paranoid and cynical.
Posted by: shahriar at December 26, 2003 10:47 AMI agree with Pedram, NIAC is wasting the funds rthey collect. Do not give money to red cross.
Posted by: Naser at December 26, 2003 10:58 AMPedram,
I can easily agree with you on this. But remember, if we do not provide alternatines to people who would like to help, we are risking the lose of peoples' interest for helping.
If we are rejecting Red Cross, we should quickly find a better ways and let the people know about it.
Posted by: Faramin at December 26, 2003 11:04 AMThis news is terribly depressing, even more so because I always trusted the Red Cross. Who do these terrible things keep happening to us?
Posted by: Hayedeh at December 26, 2003 12:07 PMPedram,
I think your cynical view toward Iranian Red Crescent is too far fetched. I've been involved in their activities and I can tell you that they are among the most efficient organizations in iran ( and probably one of the best in the world) though may not be perfect and ideal. I'm not defending any one among iranian rulers, they are crook for sure, but let's be fair and not see everything in black-white way.
Why the heck would you have people send money to the NIAC - it's a Regime Front Organization ---- it will go right into the hands of the Mullahs..
Posted by: Fred at December 26, 2003 01:09 PMPlease, What we don't need now is more confusion. This distracts people form donating.
I posted a couple of alternatives on my blog.
Pedram, your work and updates are aoppreciated. Thanks.
Posted by: at December 26, 2003 01:24 PMWhere is Pedram? Is he in Iran?
Posted by: Doug Kenline at December 26, 2003 01:46 PMFor people outside the US,the only alternative now seems directly sending money via mercycorps' online payment system: Pedram please update your top article to include this link:
https://ssl.charityweb.net/mercycorps/?DonorIntent=Iran%20Earthquake&Custom15=wm
NIAC’s FRONT! Iranian are one of the most active Expatriate groups working against tyranny in their homeland. Recently when anti-government demonstrations broke out in Iran –Iranian expatriates in ....
(WAY TOO LONG AND NOT REALLY RELATED TO THIS URGENT TOPIC. PLEASE PROVIDE A LINK TO YOUR LONG POSTS IN THE FUTURE. - PEDRAM)
Posted by: Stefania at December 26, 2003 02:04 PMStefania,
Hey I guess if you can copy and paste BS, I can responde with a copy and paste of my own. But unlike you, these will be my own thoughts and beliefs and research rather then some random dude in a chat room.
(WITH APOLOGY TO MY FRIEND NEMA, SINCE THE ORIGINAL COMMENT WAS CUT, I WILL DELETE THIS PORTION OF THE REPLY TOO AND LET THIS TAKE PLACE WHEN A TOPIC ON NIAC COMES UP. THANKS FOR UNDERSTANDING. LETS FOCUS ON GETTING MONEY OUT TO MERCY CORPS!- PEDRAM)
Despite NIAC legitimacy, I have to agree with Pedram that Mercy Corps seems the best option. There's no mediary and they have people on the ground already.
Posted by: Nema at December 26, 2003 02:17 PMPlease, please, please put aside your stupid political agenda for some other time. At least 20,000 people died, some 50,000 are homeless,... and you are still talking about politics, what's wrong with you people? ...
" ...no money will be transfered to any agent or employees of the Iranian government."
It shows how effective and well-informed this group would be, dont they know that a huge amount of iranian work force are government employees. How could you help the injured when 80% of iranian doctors are somehow government employee?
Pedram,
I dont have any doubt about your good and noble intentions and also I'm sure the Mercy Corps is very good and noble organization, but please, please, please ask them to co-operate with local authorities, there might be some problem but it would be much more efficient.
Please, please, please put aside your stupid political agenda for some other time. At least 20,000 people died, some 50,000 are homeless,... and you are still talking about politics, what's wrong with you people? ...
" ...no money will be transfered to any agent or employees of the Iranian government."
It shows how effective and well-informed this group would be, dont they know that a huge amount of iranian work force are government employees. How could you help the injured when 80% of iranian doctors are somehow government employee?
Pedram,
I dont have any doubt about your good and noble intentions and also I'm sure the Mercy Corps is very good and noble organization, but please, please, please ask them to co-operate with local authorities, there might be some problem but it would be much more efficient.
The NIAC supports Khatami..
The majority of the iranians hate them...
as for you, Pedram.. i don't know if you are a true opponent or a regime-spy..
(I AM A SPY. NOW SEND 50,000 LIRES/$30 TO EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS - PEDRAM)
I think Pedram is both. ; ) And Stefania, when your political bickering and neo wacko stance is over you might want to put some money in and help out some victims. The previous speaker is right, this is a time for mourning and assistance.
Posted by: Nema at December 26, 2003 02:40 PMIn looking for another US NGO that does work in Iran already, please visit Relief International's website:
www.ri.org
At this time, donations are by phone.
1800-573-3332
No one needs your damn help Stefania. Get the hell out of this forum. You are not helping.
Posted by: Faramin at December 26, 2003 03:25 PMWhere is Pedram? Is he in Iran?
Posted by: Doug Kenline at December 26, 2003 06:52 PMI didnt know this was Faramin's "forum" so he can ask people to stay or order them to get out. Now I know!
Doug, Pedram lives in U.S.
Posted by: Roya at December 26, 2003 10:13 PMDear, i already helped yesterday. i made a donation.
I am an activist for democracy in Iran. I have many friends from Iran and from outside Iran.. I am the one which organized a meeting with Kaveh Mohseni od SMCCDI in order to promote the awareness that Khatami is the same as the other mullahs..
Before accusing me,please try to know me.. i only wanted to say who are the NIAC and why you shouldn't trust them.
We can be friends,united under one cause: Freedom,Regime Change and Refrendom for Iran..
Dear, i already helped yesterday. i made a donation.
I am an activist for democracy in Iran. I have many friends from Iran and from outside Iran.. I am the one which organized a meeting with Kaveh Mohseni od SMCCDI in order to promote the awareness that Khatami is the same as the other mullahs..
Before accusing me,please try to know me.. i only wanted to say who are the NIAC and why you shouldn't trust them.
We can be friends,united under one cause: Freedom,Regime Change and Refrendom for Iran..
Ok, Pedram lives in the rich and free world.. he can be free to insult Bush and the democratic leaders.. As well as you, Faramin,you can say "no attack iran" in your site, even though you know that no one wants to attack Iran.. who wants that??? You can hope that your beloved mullahs stay into power.. in fact, where is your "no to mullah" slogan??
You seem one of the many "anti-war" crowd ... Where were they when Saddam was massacring its people and the iranians?????? Where are they now that the iranian people is under mullahs' attack??? sorry to say that your "anti-war" friends don't even care about you and rather they support the mullahs because they support the palestinians.Without their help,the palestinians couldn't continue their jihad..Just go to read what Indymedia says about the Iranian Freedom Fighters... Read and then you will change your opinion..
I am not insulting you, i'm only trying to say the truth..
Stefania,
Thank you if you made a donation and thank you if you helped in other ways, but you are still trying to make political statements. This is what is not appreciated.
Nothing changes in the fact that Bush is a criminal but what does it have to do with helping the victims today.
You accuse me that I neglected in knowing you before making accusations about you, while the only words that I was reading from you that would introduce you to me was your political statement. A suggestion, you better start doing what you advise other people to do; Knowing people before accusing them. I have made that mistake myself (and I appologized if was needed), but this wasn't one of them.
You neglected more, you always can see a link to my blog and if you bothered checking it, then you would see things differently, but if you are looking for words from me to kiss Bush's ass, you will be disappointed as I consider Bush as criminal as mullah's in Tehran.
BTW, I don't see anything any common with those who call Bush a "democratic leader" and the Palestinian struggle for the land, Jihad and terrorism.
Posted by: Faramin at December 27, 2003 01:00 PMThis conversation is very confusing. I just want to know the best way to send aid to Bam. I feel like I know less now than before I found this site.
I was in Iran this past summer for five weeks -- reunited with my college roommate from 1979. She lives in Kerman. I had a great trip to Bam.
I have to do something. It seems better to deliver the aid/money in person. I hope the folks in Iran aren't arguing over politics as much as you guys are. Otherwise, no one would get any aid.
Posted by: Cindy at December 28, 2003 10:50 AMYou are right Cindy. many of us have been trying to avoid politics, but we are still drawn into it when others make political statements. but it shouldn't be like that.
Thank you for reminding us.
Pedram has suggested many ways in this blog to send donations. But I would also suggest if you know other people in person, send it through them. Otherwise, pick one of of the recommended alternatives.
Thank you Cindy, I, on my part, promise not to be drawn to the politics at least in near future.
Posted by: Faramin at December 28, 2003 02:50 PMVia BBC, I just found out:
Nobel Prize winner, Shirin Ebadi (who recently donated her $1.4 million Award to promote democracy and Human rights in Iran) has opened an account to raise money for the earthquake victims. I would strongly recommend this as a trusted alternative (perhaps via relatives in Iran)
Here is the address:
Shirin Ebadi
Account No. 8080, Saderat Bank,
Tehran,
Yousef-abad Ave, Kalantary square Branch
I agree with cindy I'm also looking for the best way to donate. where my money will go directly and honestly to the poor people of Bam especially the children. I almost feel like i should go there personally to give blankets etc.
Posted by: at December 28, 2003 09:42 PMplease do your best to take the people out of the earth . we all hope that there are so many alive , under the ruined houses .
thanks for your humaniterian helps and efforts.
Dear friends:
While not associated with any organization (religious, political, etc..) I feel like helping in a disastrous situation such as BAM should be the easiest way to unite the might and talent of Iranians around the globe. I have decided to personally go to Iran to help to try to see to the distribution of funds that my friends and family members have contributed. I urge everyone on this blog to put aside political issues and concentrate on the task at hand. This is the best way YOU and I can HELP. If you cannot help, just send your prayers.
Good luck!
Farhad