Member of Parliament: Services to Earthquake Victims Have Not Improved in the Last 14 Years

As reports of disorder in the distribution of essential items among earthquake victims emerge, a member of Parliament stated that crisis management and the quality of services to earthquake victims have not improved in the past 14 years since the Bam earthquake. Abbas Goudarzi, a member of the Social Commission of Parliament, who visited the earthquake-affected areas of Kermanshah on Thursday, November 25, reported that about 1,500 production and service units in the province have been destroyed. Goudarzi noted that the situation of aid delivery to the earthquake-affected areas is similar to that of the Boroujerd earthquake in 2006 and the Bam earthquake in 2003, adding that the quality of services and crisis management has not improved over the years. He also mentioned that people's experience in dealing with disasters has increased and that emergency housing and initial management in Kermanshah have mainly been carried out by the people themselves. This member of Parliament emphasized that 'the distribution of resources has not been done in a planned and coordinated manner' and that there have been 'serious problems' regarding the distribution of tents and blankets. Goudarzi stressed that temporary housing for the victims should not be delayed with winter approaching. He added, 'What is important is that after this and in the coming weeks, problems should be followed up, not that we get excited and make promises to the earthquake victims and then forget them after a few weeks or months.' In recent days, reports have also emerged about shortages of tents, blankets, heating equipment, food, water, and other needs of the earthquake victims, and several members of Parliament have criticized the 'severe weakness' in aid delivery. Criticism of disorder in the distribution of goods among earthquake victims continues. Meanwhile, ILNA news agency reported on Thursday, referencing the disorder in the distribution of resources, that some people fear they will not receive essential goods in the coming weeks. Mohsen Nadi, Deputy of the Tehran Crisis Management Organization, also stated that 'the distribution system is wrong, which has resulted in those with less ability to receive goods not getting anything.' According to Nadi, two houses in Kermanshah were discovered where tents were stored 'which were not authorized for this purpose.' He did not provide further details about the storage of tents in these two houses. Meanwhile, Mojtaba Safaei, Vice President of the Kermanshah Chamber of Guilds, stated, 'Yesterday, based on public reports, a pickup truck of donated tents for the earthquake-affected areas was discovered in a residential house, and the perpetrator was arrested by law enforcement.' ILNA news agency also reported the sale of some donated items for earthquake victims in the 'black market.' The 7.3 magnitude earthquake that struck Kermanshah, affecting regions of Iran and West Asia, has been estimated this year as the deadliest earthquake in the world, with 480 dead and 10,000 injured. Reza Mahmoudian, the Director General of Crisis Management in Kermanshah province, announced on Thursday that the number of fatalities from this incident is 480. Meanwhile, according to ISNA news agency, Mahmoudreza Moradi, the head of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, reported that 10,146 injured individuals were admitted to hospitals in the province, with 6,619 of them treated on an outpatient basis. Moradi stated that 1,325 surgeries were performed within three days after the earthquake, which 'is considered a record in its own right.' He announced that 529 individuals are hospitalized, and 391 others were transferred to other provinces by ambulance and air emergency services. Moradi also mentioned that a 'psychiatric and psychological intervention' headquarters has been established in the earthquake-affected areas and has begun its work. The head of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences also announced that 100 health centers and 14 health treatment centers have been damaged in the earthquake-affected areas of the province. Moradi did not specify the extent of the damage to these health centers. Among the buildings destroyed in the Kermanshah earthquake was the Islamabad West Hospital, which had recently been built and inaugurated. Meanwhile, Hoshmatollah Flahatpisheh, the representative of Islamabad West in Parliament, reported on Tuesday that an arrest warrant had been issued for the contractor of this hospital. Mojtaba Nik-Kardar, the Deputy Governor of Kermanshah, stated on November 23 that 17,000 buildings in villages and cities of the province were '100% destroyed' and that for the reconstruction of rural houses, a grant of five million and a low-interest loan of 25 million will be provided. Meanwhile, according to Tasnim news agency, Hossein Salami, the Deputy Commander of the Revolutionary Guards, announced that 1,900 earthquake-affected villages will be rebuilt by this organization. He also provided statistics on the Revolutionary Guards' assistance to the earthquake-affected areas. The Revolutionary Guards have also reported 'mobilizing their resources' to assist the earthquake victims in recent days. However, on Tuesday, during a speech by Hassan Rouhani to the earthquake victims, when he was thanking the armed forces for their assistance, a group of attendees shouted that 'only the army' had helped them. Meanwhile, Iranian news agencies reported on Thursday that Captain Hassan Nairpour, from the Kermanshah helicopter base, died of cardiac arrest while providing aid to earthquake victims in one of the villages. Numerous images of the army's assistance to the earthquake victims have also been published in Iranian media and social networks. In this context, the Iranian Engineering Organization has 'no oversight' over the Mehr Housing project. Rouhani commented on the earthquake damage: there has been corruption in construction. The death toll from the Kermanshah earthquake has risen to 474. 'Dozens' of earthquake victims have been 'buried without permission.' Criticism from several members of Parliament regarding the 'weakness in aid delivery' to earthquake victims continues.