Earthquake disaster - We should spearhead call for aid

As many as 20,000 people are feared dead as a result of yesterday’s earthquake in of south-eastern Iran. The country suffers frequent earthquakes and people tend to adopt a somewhat fatalistic approach, making little effort to ensure that their buildings are as earthquake-resistant as possible. Instead, they look on what happens as “the will of Allah”.

In 1990, some 35,000 people were killed in Iran in another earthquake in the Caspian region.

As many of 70% of the houses were reportedly destroyed yesterday in Bam, which is a city with many buildings of great historical appeal.

Its famous 2,000-year-old mud-brick citadel was destroyed in yesterday’s earthquake.

This is a loss not only to Iran but also to all humanity. There is an immediate shortage of blood.

With so many people left homeless, there is also a great need for blankets and tents, as the semi-desert area gets very cold at night. With Ireland about to assume the presidency of the European Union, we should be in the forefront of those calling for humanitarian assistance to be sent to Iran. Compared with such difficulties our own troubles pale into insignificance. It is a grim reminder of how much we can all be thankful for at this particularly reflective time of year.