Three
years ago, on 26 December, a devastating earthquake levelled
the city of Bam, destroying the ancient citadel, and leaving
26,000 people dead, 30,000 injured and 75,000 homeless.
At least 85% of the city’s buildings were razed, including
119 health centres, clinics and hospitals, as well as 131 schools,
which left some 20,000 students without school facilities.
Bam is located on a main fault line in Iran, which is ranked
as the fourth most disaster-prone country in the world.
Today, nine schools, two health clinics, an orthopaedic centre
and a road rescue centre, financed through the International
Federation, have emerged from the rubble. Official inauguration
ceremonies took place in Bam on the eve of the third anniversary
of the tremor.
"I always dreamed of a school with pink walls and lovely
chairs, and now my dream has come true," says Hossein,
an eight-year-old student of the Marefat Primary School. “Sometimes
what we believe is far away suddenly appears in front of our
eyes. I never expected my school to be ready so early.”
It was a dream shared by all the students who had to study in
temporary classes, housed in containers, while construction
was going on. Now, with the inauguration of the new schools,
equipped with modern facilities, this dream has finally come
true, to the joy of teachers and parents as well.
In the recovery phase which followed the emergency operation,
the International Federation gave priority to the reconstruction
of schools, committing itself to building a total of nine schools
in Bam, including five standard schools, three special institutions
for disabled students and a model school complex.
The five standard schools were completed and handed over to
the Ministry of Education in September 2006 and the three special
schools for disabled children were completed at the end of November
2006. The Arg-e-Bam Model School Complex is close to final completion.
The inauguration ceremony of all the schools built by the International
Federation was held on 6 December 2006 at the Arg-e-Bam Model
School Complex. Students, teachers and parents held banners
at the ceremony, which read: "Thanks for remembering us!",
"We are happy that you did not forget us." and "Thanks
to the International Federation for its support."
Some 200 people attended the event, including students, teachers
and representatives of the Iranian Red Crescent Society and
the International Federation. The Deputy Minister of Education
of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Irish Ambassador to Iran,
the Governor General of Kerman Province and the Governor of
Bam attended.
Also present were representatives of the Red Cross national
societies of Ireland, Japan, Sweden, the Netherlands and the
Taiwan Red Cross Organization, as well as of UN agencies and
international organizations.
In his speech, Dr. Khatami, President of the Iranian Red Crescent
Society, thanked the International Federation and other donor
Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies for their contributions:
"When the earthquake happened in Bam on 26 December 2003,
we knew that many, many people had died, but the spirit of humanity
was still alive," he said.
"It has been a great pleasure for us to have provided humanitarian
assistance to the victims of the Bam earthquake, and to students
in particular", said Ibrahim Osman, Deputy Secretary General
of the International Federation. “I sincerely hope these
schools will be remembered forever for the noble humanitarian
spirit displayed by all after the earthquake.”
Speaking on behalf of donor national societies, Anthony Lawlor,
Vice-President of the Irish Red Cross, noted:
"Youth constitutes a great part of Iran's population, and
we thought it would be a good opportunity to support the education
of these students, after the Bam earthquake left so many young
people deprived of educational facilities. I feel very proud
of what has been done. Iran has very talented students who deserve
such a donation.”
Mr. Bourbour, Deputy Minister of Education in Iran, expressed
his deep thanks to the International Federation for the reconstruction
programme.
“Investment in the educational sector is an investment
in the future of the nation,” said Mr. Bourbour. “We
regard the International Federation’s support to the educational
sector in Bam as a great contribution to the future of the Iranian
people. We will never forget the valuable support of the International
Federation, who assisted the earthquake victims when they were
undergoing the most difficult times in their life.”
The most emotional part of the ceremony was a performance of
disabled students. These children, who are visually and hearing-impaired,
will study at the three special schools. They sang a song and
“signed” their appreciation for the donors who had
provided them with new schools. After the ceremony, the participants
toured the schools and were warmly welcomed by students and
teachers.
Of the nine schools, five standard schools of Jihad, Farhanghian,
Montazeri, Kafi and Shamsaddini schools were constructed with
funding from the Red Cross Societies of Australia, Germany,
the Netherlands, Ireland, Canada as well as from the Australian
Government.
Three special schools, in Marefat, Maharathaye Herfeye Peyvand
and Eng. Taheri Hanjani were constructed with financial support
from the Red Cross Societies of Japan, Norway and Sweden.
The construction of the Arg-é-Bam Model School Complex
was financed by the Red Cross Societies of Australia, Andorra,
Canada, Croatia, Germany, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, New
Zealand, Norway, Monaco, Poland, Sweden and Taiwan Red Cross
Organization; and the Governments of Australia, Ireland and
Sweden.
In addition to the schools, the International Federation also
constructed an urban health centre and a road rescue base with
funding from the Hong Kong branch of the Chinese Red Cross Society,
the Red Cross Societies of Belgium and Norway, and the Red Crescent
Societies of Malaysia and Qatar.
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In
the recovery phase which followed the emergency operation,
the International Federation gave priority to the reconstruction
of schools, committing itself to building a total of nine
schools in Bam, including five standard schools, three
special institutions for disabled students and a model
school complex, the Arg-e-Bam, which is close to final
completion. (p15226)
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The
inauguration ceremony of all the schools built by the
International Federation was held on 6 December 2006 at
the Arg-e-Bam Model School Complex. Students, teachers
and parents held banners at the ceremony, which read:
"Thanks for remembering us!", "We are happy
that you did not forget us." and "Thanks to
the International Federation for its support". (p15238)
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The
plate reads: "Shamsaddini High School constructed
by the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red
Crescent Societies in cooperation with the Ministry of
Education and Red Crescent Society of the Islamic republic
of Iran, with the financial support of the Canadian Red
Cross Society". (p15229)
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The
most emotional part of the ceremony was a performance
of disabled students. These children, who are visually
and hearing-impaired, will study at the three special
schools. They sang a song and “signed” their
appreciation for the donors who had provided them with
new schools. (p15236)
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"It
has been a great pleasure for us to have provided humanitarian
assistance to the victims of the Bam earthquake, and to
students in particular", said Ibrahim Osman, Deputy
Secretary General of the International Federation. “I
sincerely hope these schools will be remembered forever
for the noble humanitarian spirit displayed by all after
the earthquake.” (p15234)
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