Analysis by PMOI/MEK
Iran, Dec. 16, 2018 – More than a year ago, a heavy earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 hit most regions in Kermanshah province, western Iran. More than 600 people died, nearly ten thousand people were injured and about 70 thousand people became homeless.
According to Iranian media, more than 103 apartments were damaged, and the overall damages were 11 times more than the annual budget of the province.
But the most horrifying story, and simultaneously the least publicized one, is the fate of the homeless families who are still living in tents one year after the earthquake and on the eve of the bloody cold winters of Kermanshah.
State-run newspaper Arman quoted a survivor and wrote on November 27: “Every time when an aftershock happens, all the nightmares of that horrifying night are revived. There are many surviving families from the earthquake who haven’t received a shelter yet. Whenever it rains or snows, the tent is filled with water and we must sit next to the tent with water-soaked clothes and shake. Nobody will heed our calls for help. Small electric heaters can’t help in this cold. They were supposed to build homes for us, the shelter would be enough right now.”
Waiting for a shelter
Shoar website also reiterated on September 29 the plight of the earthquake victims and said: “Since October 2017, every time a new aftershock happens, the rate of immigration, family separation, and mental problems increase dramatically among the citizens, while the makeshift shelters and temporary livelihoods shake. Investigators of the Housing Foundation have confirmed that most of the houses have been ruined completely, temporary shelters are becoming the norm in this part of Kermanshah and simultaneously any hope that authorities will help the people is diminishing. Part of the people who donated their shelters to others in hopes of rebuilding their homes or sold them to finance other living expenses have resumed living in tents.”
2018 Sarpol-e Zahab earthquake: added injuries
Among the aftershocks, the November Sarpol-e Zahab 6.3-magnitude earthquake was a devastating reminder that added to the difficulties of the already suffering population of the area.
In an article published on December 7, Eqtesad-e Iran website described the painfully difficult situation of the poor citizens of the region and wrote: “Rain and snow over the past three days have covered most of the regions in Kermanshah province and some of the victims of earthquake who still live in tents and shelter since their homes aren’t rebuilt yet, face difficulties. The recent earthquake destroyed 600 living places in the western parts of Kermanshah province and 3,500 places need repair. According to estimates, the November earthquake has inflicted damages worth more than 15 million dollars to Kermanshah province [converted with a rate of 1 USD=150,000 rials].”
Living a year in a tent
The state-run news agency, IRNA, published an article November 27 and described the situation of the victims after the new earthquake writing: “The streets and alleys of the city are full of mud and rain and water has penetrated the tents of the victims of the earthquake. Many people still don’t have shelters, let alone a house and are still living in tents, one year after that fearful night and devastating earthquake. The rain in the recent days has flooded some of the tents and their inhabitants are trying to handle the situation using plastic sheets and digging water channels.”
Many people still don ‘t have shelters, and are still living in tents
Salamat News, another state-run website points to a widespread tragedy of misinformation and engineering facts and data by state agencies in Iran.
On November 27 the website quoted one of the earthquake victims and wrote: “When they declare the thousands of deaths of last year’s earthquake as just 600 to 700 people, you can’t expect official sources to give real numbers of the injured or possible deaths for the recent earthquake… According to official sources, 700 to 800 people were injured in five earthquake-stricken cities while I myself witnessed two times of that number in Sarpol-e Zahab hospital alone.”
Back in October, Iranian regime president Hassan Rouhani outrageously said: “In this period, from October 2017 until August 2018, in rural areas, almost everybody has returned home, and the houses have been rebuilt and fixed.”
But for the disaster-stricken people of Kermanshah, the realities are hole-riddled tents and the cold bite of the harsh winter of western Iran.
