Germany To Send Medical Relief For Iran's Earthquake Victims

Berlin, Aug 18, IRNA -- Germany is to send medical relief for the victims of Saturday's powerful twin earthquakes in northwestern Iran, the German Foreign Ministry announced here on Friday. It is our compassionate duty to provide humanitarian help to those people who are in distress. They need our solidarity following Saturday's terrible earthquake catastrophe, Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said in a press statement. German quake relief is to include medical and hygienic supplies. Berlin is also contemplating to set up mobile clinics in the quake-ravaged areas. A German medical team departed Monday for the quake-stricken region. Organized by Berlin-based Iranian engineer Cyrus Ghiasi, the four-member team of the non-governmental medical aid organization, humedica, was providing medical assistance to the survivors of the devastating earthquake. 'We think we can be of help in the quake-hit area, the coordinator of the Iran mission,' Susanne Merkel was saying. Hundreds of people were killed and thousands more injured and left homeless when two quakes struck the towns of Ahar and Varzeqan within 11 minutes of each another on Saturday, registering magnitudes of 6.3 and 6.4, according to the US Geological Survey./end