World Vision Begins Nighttime Distribution of Relief

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by James Addis, Press Officer
World Vision New Zealand

World Vision tonight began the first distribution of its relief goods to earthquake victims, negotiating rubble and garbage-strewn streets in darkness.

World Vision relief director Ton Van Zutphen said the decision to distribute at night was made to avoid crowds gathering and preventing an orderly distribution. Also families tended to be gathered in one place, rather than spread around the city performing various errands, so it was easier to confirm family numbers.

Five pick-up trucks delivered 72 six-person tents to vulnerable families all registered by the Red Crescent. Tents were allocated to homeless families, who had not yet received

World Vision's Paul Sitnam (blue jacket, far right) works with staff and members of the Iranian Red Crescent Society to load tents for a night distribution on Saturday, Jan. 2. World Vision and Red Crescent staff canvassed city streets for needy citizens of Bam who need shelter and blankets. The plan is to do these night distributions for the next several days. So many people wander the streets looking for friends and relatives during daylight hours, returning to the rubble of their homes and any surviving family members at night. World Vision photo by Soenke Weiss.

a tent or else were suffering overcrowding in a tent already allocated.

One family of five, huddled around a make-shift campfire and who had spent a week without shelter was overjoyed to receive a tent.

Beneficiaries who clamored around the pick-up trucks during the distribution kept repeating their complaint about the bitter cold conditions. Many wore only sandals on their feet.

The Red Crescent supplied volunteers and the trucks to mount the operation

World Vision Relief director Ton Van Zutphen said the high regard for the Red Crescent by Iranians helped ensure that distributions ran smoothly.

World Vision is accepting donations for Family Survival Kits to assist the people of Iran.