After the disastrous earthquake that hit the area last December 26th, causing more than 30,000 casualties and leaving more than 100,000 people homeless, the population lives in the camp set up by the international organizations. The emergency is not over and urgent measures need to be taken soon because the hot season will make life in these precarious shelters unbearable.

Maryam's love is stronger than the earthquake. Bam is all her life. She has lived here for all her 40 years. In Bam, she played with the other children in the street, then grew up and became a woman. In Bam she found her life’s true love, her husband, who gave her the joy of eleven children. On last December 26th, Maryam lost everything. She lost her husband and four children in the devastating earthquake that hit the town in South East Iran.

The Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) gave her a tent to put the remains of her family in a safe place, but the tent is too small and there is not enough room for all of them. So the four elder children went to stay with their grandfather, in the close outskirts. Maryam put the tent in the exact spot where her house stood, where her poor family spent so many important moments.

Bam gave her everything and has taken everything from her, but she does not want to leave. Maybe she would feel she was betraying that great, ancient and proud city that it is now on its knees. Maybe she just wants to keep her family together despite all adversities.

Mujgan, Maryam's neighbour, was luckier than she. He is alive and nobody in his family died that night because they were not sleeping at home. They had stayed with some relatives to celebrate with the whole family. He was tired after the rich dinner and did not feel like driving. Chance saved his, his wife's and their children's lives. They lost all their belongings when the house collapsed and turned into a heap of dusty debris. His family too lives in the IRCS camp. He hurries up to his temporary lodging with a couple of blankets he got from the rescuers to keep his family warm during the night when the temperature goes down, even below freezing. He is still Maryam's neighbour. Maryam is alone with three children and her man is gone. Whenever he can, Mujgan helps her and the little ones. This is what good neighbours do.

The United Nations coordination Centre in Bam confirmed that, according to official data, the affected population has received nearly 90,000 tents. Abdul Haq Amiri, the person in charge of the United Nations team in Bam, has declared to the Irin agency: “At this time, the population has received an adequate number of tents and blankets, but the hot season will come soon and, in a month, the temperature will reach 40°C (104°F)”. This is because Bam lies in a desert area. So the emergency is never over and after a huge effort to survive to in freezing temperatures, the refugees will have to face the heat.

The first stage of the aid plan, aiming to provide shelters from the cold for the homeless people, is still far from being accomplished and measures are already required to face the approaching heat. While most people are still waiting for food, medicines and blankets to live decently in the camp, it is vital to start thinking about different accommodation.

The Iranian government seems to want to set up temporary lodgings for the homeless before the end of April. “But a specific or standard project is not yet available “, admitted Amiri, pointing out that “several different kinds of semi-permanent accommodation has been proposed to face this wide emergency.” According to the official figures, approximately 10,000 prefabricated houses will be required. But a choice must be made quickly.

“When the weather changes, people will need better lodging,” observed Amiri. The UNO official stressed the need for adequate accommodation to face the scorching heat and noted that efforts in that direction are being made. This means that the money is ready, but it has not yet been decided how to spend it. There is no doubt that “it is absolutely impossible to survive during the summer in the tents the Bam people received,” concluded Amiri.

Brunson McKinley, general director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), declared to Irin that IOM was present in the South East Iranian city to evaluate the need for semi-permanent accommodation. “The idea is basically to substitute the tents where now many people are living with something better suited to face the wind and the heat, and this must be done quickly,” McKinley explained. Then IOM will undertake building work of earthquake proof houses with locally available materials for approximately 12 months.

All efforts to save the earthquake survivors may turn out ineffective if they are not carried out fast and well. Maryam and Mujgan will continue to fight and will help each other. Because they care for their little ones and love their injured town. After all, they are neighbours.

Christian Elia