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| CPR Newsletter: Securing development, peace and justice for all | |
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Post-disaster Recovery in Iran On 26 December 2003, a devastating earthquake struck Iran’s southeastern city of Bam, claiming more than 30,000 lives and causing immense destruction to houses, infrastructure and livelihoods. In the aftermath, rehabilitation of survivors and reconstruction of infrastructure was a complex task. Information on the needs of the affected communities was often scarce and inaccurate, and communicating to the affected people about the government’s relief and rehabilitation packages and their entitlements was a major challenge. Without having access to information on reconstruction and housing policies, it was difficult for survivors to make decisions about rebuilding their houses. To bridge this gap, UNDP coordinated a UN response to achieve participatory reconstruction planning for Bam. Initiating a community-based information and communication strategy was a crucial component of UNDP’s commitment to the government of Iran and the people of Bam. The aim of the initiative was to empower the affected communities through better access to information on disaster recovery and reconstruction programmes, using various information and communication technologies. The production of a bi-weekly community newsletter for Bam with a circulation of 10,000 was one of the first steps taken. A group of local volunteers, who were trained on reporting and journalism by UNDP, have been involved in producing the newsletter and disseminating it through kiosks. The newsletter provides information to communities about government policies on house and land entitlements, and the procedures to get them. It also provides information about job opportunities, safety, health and risk reduction. Simultaneously, the newsletter offers the community a chance to voice their concerns about these programs. In addition to providing communities with increased information about recovery programs, the newsletter has had ripple effects. Some participants have started their own sectoral news sheets and bulletins. There has been a wider campaign for enhancing public awareness on natural disaster risk. Awareness campaigns have been launched with specific themes, and posters and pamphlets are regularly circulated. Radio and television programmes make people aware of the various types of disasters in the country, and methods of disaster risk reduction are debated in interviews with national and provincial authorities, scientists, scholars and policy makers. To maintain this present momentum of information exchange and awareness, UNDP hopes to consolidate the strategy through the Country Programme for 2005-2009, where improving access to information on disasters and risk management figures as a key component. In the aftermath of the Zarand earthquake of 2005, which occurred in the same province as Bam, attempts have been made to extend Bam’s information and communication strategy to the entire province. Through the Country Programme, UNDP will begin to share information on different aspects of disaster risk management via “information portals” for the province. Information on disaster risks will also be analyzed by creating a system to continually track existing and emerging patterns of disaster risk over time. These efforts will result in the compilation of a National Disaster Risk Report for Iran—a crucial tool that will guide ongoing and future recovery and risk reduction efforts.
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