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	12/31/03: Department of the Treasury: Treasury Eases Restrictions To Assist Humanitarian Relief Activities For Earthquake Victims In Iran 12/31/03: Department of State: U.S. Expedites Assistance to Iran Earthquake Victims 12/29/03: Fairfax County: USAID Activates Virginia Task Force One for Iran Earthquake 12/27/03: FEMA: Department Of Homeland Security Response Teams Deployed To Iran To Assist Victims Of Earthquake USAID: Assistance for Iranian Earthquake Victims
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USAID Providing Assistance to Earthquake Victims in Iran

Team Includes Fairfax Country Search and Rescue Personnel, FEMA Medical Experts

WASHINGTON, DC 20523
PRESS OFFICE
http://www.usaid.gov/
Press: (202) 712-4320
Public Information: (202) 712-4810

2003-104

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 29, 2003

Contact: USAID Press Office

WASHINGTON, DC -- On December 27th the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) dispatched a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to Bam, Iran along with accompanying technical specialists. The team is providing emergency humanitarian assistance to the victims of the Bam earthquake.

The DART includes seven USAID experts and is accompanied by eleven members of the Fairfax County (VA) Urban Search and Rescue Team and 66 medical experts from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The DART, Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue Team, and FEMA arrived in Iran early Monday morning, December 29th.

As part of these assistance efforts, USAID has mobilized pre-positioned supplies, including blankets and plastic sheeting for temporary shelters, from Dubai to expedite the delivery of emergency humanitarian assistance to the people of Iran. USAID has worked closely with representatives of the International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and the United Nations Office of the Coordinator for Humanitarian Assistance (OCHA), both located on the scene in Iran to determine the most immediate needs of the Bam earthquake victims.

In addition to its worldwide disaster and humanitarian relief efforts, USAID also funds international emergency disaster training for urban search and rescue teams for swift deployment to emergency areas. Last year, USAID provided $2 million in grants to the Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue Team to equip, train and deploy teams to international disasters. USAID also works closely with the Los Angeles County Search and Rescue on similar programs and services for emergency deployments. USAID-funded urban search and rescue teams have previously assisted in emergencies in Kenya, Turkey, Columbia and Taiwan

The U.S. Agency for International Development has provided economic and humanitarian assistance worldwide for more than 40 years.

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