Berlin allocates additional 200,000 euros for Bam quake survivors
Berlin, Dec 29, IRNA -- The German government allocated additional 200,000 euros for the Bam quake relief program, raising Berlin's total financial contribution to 700,000 euros, German Foreign Ministry spokesman Antje Leendertse announced here Monday during a news conference.

photo: ISNA

She added that Germany had sent a total of 33 tons of relief goods to the crisis region over the past days.

Furthermore German experts had been dispatched to Bam to find out what kind of help was still needed, according to Leenderste.

Meanwhile the German Red Cross sent earlier in the day two mobile field hospitals to Bam where up to 40,000 injured people could be treated for the next three months.

A 10-member medical team was also en route to the quake region, the German Red Cross said.

The German relief consignment included also mobile water purification plants, 20,000 tents, 200,000 blankets, 40,000 cooking sets, 20,000 heaters and 400,000 water purification tablets.

photo: ISNA

UK loaning two transport aircraft to ferry Bam relief
London, Dec. 29, IRNA -- Britain is supplying two transport aircraft to assist with the relief efforts in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in the ancient Iranian city of Bam, International Development Secretary Hilary Benn announced Monday.

He said that the British government was also sending shelter equipment, including high specification winterised tents, to house up to 560 families.

"The UK is determined to do all we can to help the people of Bam. Providing shelter for those facing the freezing desert night is urgent and critical," Benn said.

The International Development Department DFID said it would be paying for an Antanov AN12 to remain in Iran for the immediate emergency period, along with an additional AN12, to be used by local authorities to transport relief to Bam from other parts of Iran.

The Russian-built medium-range transport aircraft have a payload capacity of 20 tons and are used by many operators in arduous conditions, including mountainous regions with austere, unpaved or unimproved runways.

The supply of tents and the use of aircraft was said to be in response to a request for shelter and logistics assistance from the government of Iran.

The UK sent a team of 68 search and rescue specialists, including fire service personnel and expertise from several NGOs, that arrived in Kerman last Saturday morning.

It has also pledged Pnds 150,000 (Dlrs 250,000) to the International Federation of the Red Cross flash appeal for tents, plastic sheeting, heating and water purification equipment.

Japan to send 2 SDF transport planes of relief aid to Iran
Tehran, Dec 29, IRNA -- Japan on Monday decided to dispatch two C-130 planes from the Air Self-Defense Force (ASDF) to transport relief supplies to Iran's quake-stricken Bam, the Kyodo news agency reported.

The agency stressed that the C-130 aircraft aboard which will be also some 30 personnel will leave the ASDF's base in Aichi Prefecture in central Japan this week and will fly to Singapore where they will load the supplies prepared by Japan International Cooperation.

The aircraft, which will carry blankets, tents, water tankers and other relief goods, will then leave Singapore for Iran's southern city of Kerman on Thursday.

Kerman is some 200 kilometers away from Bam, which was struck by the earthquake last Friday.

This follows instructions by Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi to Japan's Defense Agency to study a mission of sending Self-Defense Forces (SDF) personnel to Iran to help relief work there following the Bam quake.

The city of Bam, situated in southeastern Iran about 180 kms to the south of the provincial capital city of Kerman, was severely shaken by an earthquake measuring 6.3 degrees on the Richter scale on Friday morning.

The spokesman for Iran's Interior Ministry Jahanbakhsh Khanjani said on Monday that the bodies of over 25,000 victims of the Bam quake have been buried until Monday morning.

photo: ISNA

Norway sending field hospital to aid Bam relief efforts
London, Dec. 29, IRNA -- The Norwegian Red Cross was preparing to ship a field hospital, with a capacity of 150 beds, to Iran Monday to assist with the relief efforts following the devastating earthquake in the ancient city of Bam.

In addition, another planeload containing 45 tons of emergency supplies was being sent Monday, including medical supplies, blankets, storage halls, generators and 400 large, heated winter tents able to accommodate 4,000 people.

According to the Norway Post, the Scandanavian country has increased its financial emergency aid to Iran by Krone 13 million (Dlrs 2 m), following the earthquake. This is in addition to Krone 7 m granted earlier.

Development Minister Hilde Frafjord Johnson said that Krone 15 m would be channelled by the Norwegian Red Cross and Krone 3.5 m will go through Norwegian Church Aid.

The rest of the funds is being distributed to the UN's humanitarian organisation (OCHA), UNICEF and the volunteer Norwegian Search and Rescue Team (NORSAR).

Prince Abdullah orders field hospital to be set up in Bam: envoy
Tehran, Dec 29, IRNA -- The Saudi Arabian ambassador to Tehran Monday said his country's Crown Prince Amir Abdullah has ordered for construction of a field hospital equipped with modern surgery equipment, X-ray, and lab in the quake-stricken Bam, southeast of Kerman province.

Nasser bin Ahmad al-Morshed al-Barik told IRNA he found a field hospital the pressing need in the region.

He said a Saudi medical team comprising 14 doctors are active in the devastated city, adding that two cargo planes of his country have been offloaded and two C-130 are to land Monday afternoon.

According to the envoy, 2,000 tents, 6,000 blankets, four tons of foodstuff, eight tons of medicine, and hundreds of blood bags have been delivered to Kerman Governor General's Office.