To be presented to the Executive Council Meeting of
The World Federation of KSIMC, in Brampton on 20 March 2004

Submitted by Executive Councillor Mohsin Kanji

1.0 Overview
At 5.28am (0200 GMT) on Friday 26th December 2003, an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale struck havoc in the lives of Muslims in the South East region of Iran.  The epicentre was the city of Bam situated about a 1000 km from Tehran.

On the 28th of December 2003, a World Federation response paper was prepared with a view to coordinating the relief efforts of the Community Globally.

The Project was formally initiated by the Office Bearers of The World Federation on 7th January 2004 and is being carried out in conjunction with Dubai Jamaat.  A team visited BAM on 12th and 13th January 2004, within three weeks of the earthquake, to assess the situation firsthand and to identify the most suitable role for the Community in the relief and rehabilitation of Bam. 

At the time of this document, the immediate relief work and the short term needs identified, have been delivered in time and within the agreed budget.
 
It was gratifying to see the outcome of the Communities efforts when the first pictures of Ashura in Bam were received form the World Federation’s representative in Qum, Syed MuhamedRidha Shustary as well as being covered by the Iranian media. 

The focus is now firmly on raising funds to deliver the identified permanent structures that form the final phase of Project Bam.  A communication toolkit including the World Federation website and newswires have been used to continuously update members on the project and its progress.  The toolkit has been made available for The World Federation and member Jamaats to help keep their membership abreast as well as assist in the fund raising.

This project has been unique in that it marks a new way of working.  Whilst the decision making authority remained with the elected Office Bearers, a team consisting of World Federation representatives and members of the local Jamaat closest to the affected area were mobilised and tasked with leading this project on behalf of the World Federation and hence the global Community.  The Secretariat provided guidance, support and facilitated the workings of the Project team with member Jamaats.

2.0 Assessment Visit
During the visit, the team toured the City of BAM extensively and after assessing the situation for themselves, met with various government officials and religious leaders to ascertain their needs.  These included; Hujjatul Islam Asgher Askary, the Imam of Juma'h, a direct appointee and representative of Ayatullah Khamenei, The Mayor of Bam, The Governor of Bam, The Head of the Islamic Propogation Organisation in Bam, Shaikh Mohamedali Abadi.  The much expanded Bam cemetery was also visited.

The following day a meeting was held in Tehran with Agha Mohamed Hassan Akhtari, the Advisor to Ayatullah Khamenei on International Affairs.  That afternoon the team traveled to Qum to meet with Syed Husayni Bushehri, the Head of Hawzas in Iran along with, Alamul Hudda, who is heading the Bam re-building Committee.

Based on the assessment visit, meetings with various Government officials and religious leaders and the specific issues surrounding Bam; the recommendation was based on a central theme of assisting the re-building of and strengthening the religious infra-structure i.e. Religious Centres (Imambaras), Hawzas, Mosques, etc.

3.0 Projects Identified

3.1 A three phased approach was selected

• Several Federations and Member Jamaats met with the Iranian Embassies in their respective Countries to present letters of condolence as well as make some donations towards immediate relief.  During this phase contacts were established on the ground to identify the need if any for urgent relief supplies.
  
  

• Assessment trip to identify needs.  Given the destruction of almost 50 mosques, 30 religious Centres and all 3 Hawzas, a pressing need was to provide for these facilities especially given that Muharram was only several weeks away.  By the Grace of the Almighty and the generosity of the Community the short term needs in form of 14 semi permanent structures were delivered in time (2nd Muharram 1425) and have been seen to be widely used by Mu’mineen in Bam.

• Mid term needs in the way of permanent infra-structure projects as follows
  
  o Building a new Hawza                            US$ 120,000
  o Building of a Masjid                               US$ 140,000
  o Building of Religious Centre (Imambara) US$ 200,000
  Total Capital Projects Identified                 US$ 460,000

3.2 Rationale
It was evident from the assessment visit that various International agencies had rushed in to help in the immediate aftermath of the disaster.  Apart from significant relief supplies of food, medicine, clothing and tents, pledges had been made for projects such as Schools, Housing, Hospitals, Orphanages and even the Citadel.  The contributions have poured in from far and wide

The team witnessed delivery of part of a consignment of 3000 units of semi-permanent houses from the Turkish government.  The National Imam Khomeini Housing Trust had pledged 25,000 units.

The Ministry of Education had already set up tented schools in place of the 65 schools damaged.  UNICEF had committed US$ 5 million towards schools & orphanages.  A South African delegation of Muslims had committed to a further three orphanages. The UNESCO (Cultural and Heritage) has pledged US$ 5 million for the rehabilitation of the Citadel.

This led to the rationale that there was a specific role that our Community could play to help the plight of our brothers in faith.  The focus on strengthening the religious infrastructure was one only a body such as ours can undertake. Additionally

• The projects selected are of noble cause and are sawabe-Jaari
  
  

• Given the selected projects are for religious purposes, it alleviates the complication of identifying the most deserving persons given that unlike Gujarat we do not have our own community existing in Bam. 

• Bam’s location has made it prone to being influenced by other schools of thought and it is incumbent upon us to strengthen the religious infra-structure and hence fortify the religious principles of our fellow brothers in faith.

4.0 Some Facts on BAM & the surrounding areas
BAM and its surrounding areas in Kirman Province are well known for Dates and oranges along with the world famous 2000 year old Citadel.  The Citadel situated in BAM was a tourist attraction, which had created jobs and had generated tourism revenue.  Due to the significant damage, this has been closed. 

The only major industry in the area is an automotive industry situated outside Bam.

The City of Bam had a population of about 100,000, with approximately an equal number of inhabitants dwelled in the surrounding townships around Bam of which Baravat was the biggest with some 23,000 inhabitants.

The death toll has been unprecedented and whilst 33,000 bodies have been buried, it is estimated that another 18,000 may still be buried under the 10 million tonnes of debris that the earthquake created. 

In an effort to preserve the town’s heritage and history, many buildings maintained the old mud brick structure.  This was perhaps one of the single biggest contributors to the complete annihilation of some residential neighbourhoods that resembled a demolition site.  However, such was the nature of the earthquake that it did not spare some of the new buildings from destruction or damage.  Apart from houses, the earthquake damaged schools, businesses, hospitals as well as destroying some 50 mosques, 30 religious centres and all 3 Hawzas.

Some other factors that differentiate this earthquake from others are that it lasted three times longer (12-20 seconds compared to most earthquakes that last between 4-6 seconds).  The timing being dawn most people were still asleep at home rather than being out and about and the nature of the buildings discussed earlier did not help either.

A lot of the infra-structure in terms of roads, electricity as well as buildings and running water in the outskirts of the town remained largely un-affected. 

A tent city was set up and several governments and international agencies have begun to provide semi-permanent housing for the residents.  However, due to the culture of the people and given many choose to live closer to their farms, the camps are being mainly used for the elderly and the orphaned.