TEHRAN – The Ministry of Cooperatives, Labor and Social Welfare, and the State Welfare Organization in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have supported the reconstruction of damaged houses for vulnerable families in the quake-hit city of Khoy.

On January 29, 2023, an earthquake measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale hit Khoy in the northwestern West Azarbaijan province, leading to the death of at least 3 people and the wounding of hundreds of others.

Some 261,000 were affected by the earthquake, and about 130,000 were left homeless in sub-zero temperatures.

Unfortunately, people living with disabilities are disproportionately affected during natural emergencies due to their special needs and therefore difficult access to relief services, including shelter, a press release by the UNICEF website on July 10 announced.

By providing financial assistance to 473 vulnerable families with children and disabled members, UNICEF helps them repair their destroyed houses.

The initiative was funded by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO).

A year after the quake, the reconstruction of the buildings is still going on. 

Since some families are living in temporary shelters, UNICEF and its partners are providing extra financial aid to enable them to procure heating equipment and warm clothing.

****Sanitation 

Meanwhile, UNICEF’s Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) team, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Treatment and Medical Education provided 82 prefabricated latrines and shower rooms to the affected households.

“Funded by ECHO, these prefabricated sanitation facilities will ensure high-quality hygiene and sanitation facilities for the families, especially children,” says Sina Saemian, UNICEF WASH Officer.

He went on to add that “Some units will be transferred to UNICEF warehouse to ensure preparedness for any future emergencies.”

UNICEF prior services in quake-hit Khoy

UNICEF’s support in Khoy County includes a variety of services, from hygiene kits and sanitation facilities to prefabricated health centers and classrooms.

In January 2023, the Iranian Red Crescent Society in cooperation with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)  organized eight educational workshops for students and their family members residing in the city of Khoy which was struck by a strong earthquake in the same month.

In November 2023, the Iranian Red Crescent Society in cooperation with UNICEF organized eight educational workshops for students and their family members residing in the city of Khoy.

A total of 1,700 male and female students and 120 of their family members attended these workshops.

These educational workshops were held with the aim of empowering children and their families in team building, team support, anger management, emotion regulation, empathy, happiness, self-care, and environmental care.

During these training programs, facilitators, and members of the IRCS teams, improved their technical skills in emergency preparedness, including providing Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) to children, adolescents, and families during crises, including natural hazards.

On September 11, 2023, UNICEF installed some fabricated classrooms and distributed hygiene and baby kits among people in the earthquake-affected city of Khoy in collaboration with the ministries of education and health.

Four schools in Khoy, affected by the earthquake, were equipped with new educational spaces. Three of these schools were located in inaccessible villages and the fourth one was in Khoy.

UNICEF, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education, facilitated the process of purchasing, delivering, installing, and equipping these prefabricated classrooms to ensure the access of earthquake-affected children to quality education.

These classes are made of thermal isolating materials and are equipped with standard educational equipment and air conditioners for all seasons.

Moreover, over 750 children studying in these schools would receive educational packages including stationery items for the new academic year.

In the next step, UNICEF plans to rehabilitate 12 schools in earthquake-affected, hard-to-reach villages in Khoy County to enhance the learning environment and opportunities for children, the UNICEF website announced in a press release on September 5.

Meanwhile, families received health packages in 15 earthquake-affected villages of Khoy. 

UNICEF prepared and presented these packages in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Medical Education to ensure children and families access the vital support to be healthy.

Families, especially children had the necessary items to prevent the spread of diseases and improve their overall well-being by receiving 662 baby kits, 2,093 family kits, and 100 incontinence kits.

These items were funded by the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF).

In order to ensure the effectiveness of this program, a post-distribution monitoring process had been implemented. The relevance and appropriateness of the hygiene items were evaluated considering the opinions of the beneficiaries.

UNICEF is committed to ensuring that children and families have access to safe water and hygiene products in times of adversity.

Therefore, close cooperation with the Ministry of Health, Medical Education, and other stakeholders will continue to provide a coordinated response to the needs of earthquake-affected households.

UNICEF’s support also included delivering essential WASH (Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene) facilities, such as prefabricated latrines and shower units, to the affected communities. 

Additionally, the Ministry of Health would be equipped with water quality assurance tools, strengthening their capacity to monitor and ensure safe drinking water not only in Khoy but also in the wider Northwest region of the country, the UNICEF website announced in a press release on September 7.

These efforts demonstrate UNICEF's commitment to stand by children and families in times of crisis so that they have the support they need to rebuild their lives and look towards a brighter and healthier future.

MT/MG