Médecins Sans Frontières Australia

Iran Earthquake Operations Kick-in

The earthquake in Bam City in Iran on 26 December, measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale, has left approximately 38,000 people dead, and many more tens of thousands homeless and thousands of children orphaned. On the very same day of the quake, Médecins Sans Frontières swung into action mobilising emergency doctors from its three ongoing health programs from Mashad, Zahedan and Teheran.

Survivors of the earthquake transported to hospital. An evaluation of the nephrology service in Shafa hospital has shown that the 13 dialysis machines present were occupied, and about 20 patients (both the chronically sick as well as earthquake victims) were on standby.

“We saw more than 80 patients every day. We started working at 7:30 a.m. and continued straight through without a break. We saw many problems linked directly to the earthquake like trauma, wounds, lung infections from dust and gastritis due to stress. Another part of my work involved caring for people with chronic illnesses. Many patients with asthma, diabetes, hypertension and epilepsy no longer had access to their daily treatment,” said Dr Eric Vanhalewyn, a doctor on his first mission with Médecins Sans Frontières.

Three days after the quake hit, Médecins Sans Frontières also sent three emergency teams and a cargo plane with ten tonnes of medical supplies, water treatment material and relief items, which arrived over the weekend. Surgical material, blankets, hygiene kits and other supplies were also rushed to Bam from our stocks in Tehran, Baghdad and Dubai.

The 'crush syndrome' often appears in people who had been crushed under rubble but survived. When trapped, the muscles releases potentially fatal toxins inside the body. Médecins Sans Frontières has sent specialised teams and equipment to assist in treatment for the survivors.

Photo © Tim Dirven

“Overall, medical needs in the area on the right side of Baravat (coming from the airport) are covered, with a mobile mental health clinic and hospitals (equipped with radios and operating rooms). The illnesses we encountered were largely colds, muscle pain, small wounds and immense psychological distress,” said Zouina Bouda, our communications officer on location in Bam.

A team of kidney specialists, nephrologists, has been assisting the hospital in Kerman, 200 kilometres north Bam, to where the more serious cases have been evacuated. They are treating the victims of so-called ‘crush syndrome’. One of the major causes of death after an earthquake is kidney failure. When people have been crushed, muscle tissue can release massive quantities of toxins into the bloodstream that can lead to kidney failure. The syndrome requires dialysis equipment. Médecins Sans Frontières has flown in six dialysis machines, as well as transfusion modules and dressing kits.

Three temporary hospitals have been installed in Bam Both hospitals in Bam were destroyed in the quake - along with 90% of the entire city. Estimates have a deathtoll over 30,000 and it will continue to climb.

Although three temporary hospitals have been installed, the most serious injuries are airlifted to facilities in nearby cities in Iran.

Médecins Sans Frontières has also set up two mobile teams in Bam to find people left out by the relief distributions, and latest reports indicate that people in the suburbs still need hygiene kits. “We visited the city’s periphery again with Isabelle and Behdad (Mobile Health Team members),” said Zouina Bouda, “we have the feeling that survivors are beginning to become aware of just how horrible the situation is. They are completely distraught and depressed.”

Now, almost two weeks after the earthquake the search for survivors is over. It is likely that psychological traumas, following the earthquake, shall start to appear now. Two Medecins Sans Frontieres psychiatrists arrived in Bam last weekend, are now making a mental health needs assessment and, if there is a need, establish a psychological assistance program, in order to help people traumatized by the earthquake. Discussions with the Ministry of Health have concluded that indeed the medical aid agency’s psychological team can assist the Government’s planned mobile social teams.

MSF brought an additional six dialysis machines from Belgium An evaluation of the nephrology service in Shafa hospital has shown that the 13 dialysis machines present were occupied, and about 20 patients (both the chronically sick as well as earthquake victims) were on standby.

Iranian authorities are looking for sites where they can organise camps to accommodate the homeless, while waiting for the reconstruction of the homes. The first camp is under construction (capacity up to 5000) and will be functioning with the help of NGOs (including Médecins Sans Frontières).

“After receiving emergency medical assistance, the Bam survivors are coming to realize, little by little, that they cannot remain forever in front of their ruined homes. But they still hope to find the bodies of their loved ones beneath the ruins and do not want to go to the camps organized by the authorities,” said Zouina Bouda.

Dr Wim Van Biesen looking at a patients' xray

Here Dr. Wim Van Biesen looking at a patients' xray. The majority of the wounded have been transferred to hospitals in other cities: Mashad, Zahedan and Teheran. Temporary facilites have also been established in Bam.

There is a 23-member volunteer team from Médecins Sans Frontières that came to aid victims of the deadly December 26 earthquake. Médecins Sans Frontières has been present in Iran since 1995 working with Afghan refugees.

8 January 2004

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FURTHER RESOURCES

» Iran: Diary of a disaster
A doctor, an administrator, and a communications officer - all in Bam, in the midst of the rubble, on an emergency mission for Médecins Sans Frontières describe their experiences and the sense of crisis, support, and sadness in the days immediately following a large-scale disaster.
» Read Part 1 | » Read Part 2

Aiding earthquake survivors and refugees
Since the fall of the Taliban regime in November 2001, millions of Afghan refugees in Iran have faced pressure to leave Iran and return home despite the continuing insecurity and difficult living conditions in Afghanistan.

MSF assists refugees in the city of Mashhad, in the northeastern border province of Khorasan, and in the city of Zahedan, in the southeastern province of Sistan-va-Baluchestan. The latter is Iran's least-developed region and the main entry point for refugees. MSF provides medical consultations and nursing care at both locations through standing facilities and mobile clinics.

At present, there are seven mobile clinic sites in Mashhad and four in Zahedan. In addition, the Mashhad project offers prenatal care and midwifery services, and the project in Zahedan treats malnutrition. Teams in both cities each carry out approximately 4,000 consultations every month. The teams also provide food aid and other basic necessities to the most vulnerable families.

MSF has also provided assistance after devastaing earthquakes - most recently after the Bam earthquake on 26 December 2003... » More

COUNTRY PROFILE
Islamic Republic of Iran
Population: 72,376,000
Life expectancy: 70 years
Expatriate staff: 17 | National staff: 30
MSF provided aid in Iran following the 1990 earthquake and has worked there continuously since 1995

Iran map

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