Lorestan communities rebuild after earthquakes
Local officials learned from the devastating experience in Bam over two years ago, which resulted in thousands of deaths and massive destruction. In Lorestan, government officials warned the population to leave their homes and seek shelter outdoors after early tremors were felt. The earthquakes, which measured between 4.7 and 5.7 on the Richter scale, thus resulted in only 70 deaths. The School Renovation Organization has already started clearing away rubble from damaged and destroyed schools and preparing for the construction of new ones. It is hoped that some new schools may be ready by autumn of 2006 - the beginning of the new academic year. In the meantime, classes in the three affected districts have recommenced in connexes, tents and undamaged school buildings.
In the village of Pahlavan Kal, 9-year-old Reza Yarahmadi and his 7-year-old sister Zahra play in front of the tents and connexes that now house their school. Their former school, which served 74 primary students, was totally destroyed in the earthquake. Recreation materials such as toys, games and sports equipment are also being distributed to primary schools in the area. “The recreation kits are very important,” said Mohammad Reza Nosrati, the Planning and Logistics Deputy of the Doroud Department of Education. “They help students learn to work together and fill their free time.” About 500 teachers have been trained in psychosocial counseling by trainers who participated in a UNICEF-supported national emergency preparedness workshop. The counseling has had a positive effect, according to teachers and education officials who say children have generally accepted the idea that the earthquake was a natural and unpredictable event.
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