|TOP|The Baptist mission group BMS World Mission continues to offer aid and support in Iran over a month after three earthquakes devastated communities in the province of Lorestan.

BMS World Mission criticised in a press statement the intense media coverage of Iran’s nuclear programme in recent months at the expense of the plight of Iranian earthquake survivors, saying that the emergency had been “all but forgotten by the media”.

The mission agency has remained in Iran since the earthquakes and several aftershocks hit the region at the end of March. A Relief Fund grant through partners Operation Mercy will distribute thousands of pounds to communities struggling to rebuild the 35,000 homes destroyed by the quakes.

The Relief Fund will also cover the cost of repairing the further 43,000 homes left damaged by the quakes which affected around 200,000 people.

|AD|Operation Mercy has been in Iran for the last five years and has continued to play a key role in the post-quake reconstruction at the behest of the Iranian government.

The funds have been meted out in phases beginning with provisions to meet the immediate needs for food, shelter and sanitation. The second phase will see funds allocated to the long term recovery and reconstruction of basic services, housing and schools.

Around 1,000 families will have their health and wellbeing needs met by the provision of food, hygiene kits, kitchen sets, cooking heaters and mobile toilets and showers.

Around one third of the cost of this initial phase will be provided by the BMS Relief Fund grant.

BMS World Mission is appealing for more donations to enable the organisation to continue with a long term recovery programme and commitment to the survivors in Iran.