Published: 9 February 2004
Britain’s Prince Charles today expressed concern at the long-term future of the victims of the earthquake in the Iranian city of Bam during a visit there in his capacity as president of the British Red Cross.
The prince asked the head of the International Federation’s earthquake operation in Bam, Iain Logan, what the longer term needs of the people were and what more the Red Cross and Red Crescent could do to help.
The Iranian Red Crescent, supported by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, is leading the humanitarian response in Bam in health care, the provision of clean water and sanitation, food and non-food relief supplies and psychological support. Much of this work is being funded by an International Federation appeal for 51.9 million Swiss francs (US$ 42 million).
The prince saw at first hand the devastation to the city and the work of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. At least 41,000 people died in the earthquake on 26 December 2003. This was Prince Charles’ first visit to a Red Cross Red Crescent operation in his capacity as British Red Cross president, a role he assumed last summer.
During his visit to Bam, Prince Charles met staff and volunteers of the Iranian Red Crescent. He also presented the society a forklift truck. The prince also visited the International Federation’s 200-bed referral hospital in Bam which has so far provided care to more than 20,000 people as well as meeting Red Cross Red Crescent teams from around the world, including the British, which are providing logistical, health and water sanitation services.
The prince of Wales said he was delighted and impressed by the cooperation between 16 different nationalities represented in the Red Cross Red Crescent operation in Bam. Accompanied by, among others, the chief executive of the British Red Cross, Sir Nick Young, the prince also met non-governmental organizations in Bam and governmental authorities.