RIYADH, 29 December 2003 — Saudi Arabia and other Arab countries are sending planeloads of relief supplies for the victims of the devastating earthquake that hit the southeastern Iranian city of Bam on Friday, as Iranians in the Kingdom anxiously waited for news of their loved ones.
The Kingdom has already sent five planeloads of supplies including food, medicine, pharmaceutical appliances, tents and blankets on the orders of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd.
Prince Talal, who administers the Arab Gulf Fund for United Nations Development Organizations (AGFUND), ordered a donation of $200,000 to support relief work.
Two planes carrying emergency relief aid and a medical team have left Kuwait, an official said. Each plane carried some 11 tons of food, blankets, tents and medical equipment.
In Dubai, Crown Prince and UAE Defense Minister Sheikh Muhammad ibn Rashid Al-Maktoum issued instructions to the charity bearing his name to start aid flights to Kerman, officials said.
Several other Arab countries including Egypt, Algeria and Yemen have ordered aid flights to Iran.
The Iranian expatriate community in Riyadh was in shock.
“My aunt was there in Bam, and I don’t where she is or if she is alive or dead,” Khatereh Joozi told Arab News yesterday.
“I don’t know what happened. The whole city is destroyed and the phones have been cut off. I have to phone my family in Tehran for further news.”
Joozi, who has been in the Kingdom for six months, said that there are other Iranians living in Riyadh but she does not know anyone and has no friends or relations here.
“We were shaken by the news,” said Ali Reza Enayaty, deputy head of mission. “We felt deep concern. The earthquake has hit all of us,” he said.
Reza said he and other Iranian nationals have been “following the news minute by minute” on Iranian television.
Despite the tragic circumstances, he said it was heartwarming to see the overwhelming response from Iranians as well as the international community to Iran’s appeal for help.
Reza added that the embassy in Riyadh has received a tremendous response from people in the local community.
“The embassy has received a large number of phone-calls from many Iranians and Saudis,” Reza said. “Some companies have called and offered financial and other forms of assistance.”
Mohsen Azad, the ambassador’s office manager, said: “All of us were hurt by this tragedy. One of my friends and his family were living in Bam, and now some of them have been killed.”
