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Good practice: knowledge and
research development
Based on the author’s assessment, resulting from his
deep involvement in all aspects of risk reduction in Iran
at all levels, the most significant achievement of the
programme lay in raising awareness, building know-
how, and training the required human resources that
were needed for risk reduction activities.
Post-Bam earthquake (2003-present)
Despite its high casualties and losses, the Bam earth-
quake disaster in December 2003 once again gave a
strong signal to governments: although their past efforts
and support were very important, effective and useful,
they had not been effective in implementation, and had
not successfully reduced risk. Governments need to
make optimal use of developed and existing know-how
on earthquake risk reduction and its integration into
the country’s development programmes. The event also
compels the scientific and engineering community to
provide more doable, usable and socioeconomic-
cultural compatible solutions to national needs.
Moreover, the public at large should become more
concerned about hazards, and increase its own
preparedness level.
Based on these facts, on the achievements of the first
programme (IEHMP) in the area of knowledge devel-
opment, and on 13 years of risk reduction experience
as well as the lessons learned from the Bam earthquake,
an action-oriented strategy was developed. The Natural
Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy of Iran has been devel-
oped and approved by Iran’s Council of Expediency and
ratified by the leadership of Iran.
The strategy covers major natural hazards, namely
earthquake, flood and drought with a special emphasis
on earthquake. The main aims of this strategy are:
• Increase public awareness and promote a collective
prevention and safety culture at all levels of society
(people and government) through an extensive
educational programme
• Increase the scientific and technical know-how
required for risk mitigation through the increasing
support and expansion of existing research institu-
tions, especially those related to earthquake
• Create a united command and management system
in order to be fully prepared for an effective disaster
response (rescue and relief operations) using all
types of civil and military resources
• Develop a comprehensive disaster information data-
base for the facilitation of research and early
warning systems
• Develop a comprehensive and scientifically sound
programme for management and implementation of
effective plans for post-earthquake recovery
(mental, social and physical) as well as for rehabili-
tation and reconstruction of the damaged area
• Develop an effective system for financial recovery
and compensation through insurance, financial
incentives and supporting funds
• Recognition of hazard, vulnerability and risk by decision-makers,
engineers and the public; which created the will and demand for
long-term risk reduction actions
• Capacity building: changing the civil engineering curriculum
toward aseismic design and construction, as well training
engineers, architects and construction workers in order to
provide the required human resource for disaster risk reduction
• Public awareness: through extensive educational camping,
especially in the school system and through all types of media, it
can be claimed that people are more aware of hazard and risk,
and consequently are more sensitive, though not prepared
• Construction quality: due to code and law enforcement and
construction controls as well as the training programme and
people awareness, the quality of construction in the urban area
has been significantly improved and the trend is toward aseismic
construction of public and private buildings. More incentive,
encouragement and code enforcement is required
• The strengthening of public buildings and infrastructures has
been underway since 2001
• Disaster management: in the past, due to the occurrence of many
earthquakes and floods as well as eight years of war, the
performance of rescue operations and reconstruction were
considered quite acceptable. In recent years the focus of disaster
management has moved toward a long term planning.
Indexes
Research
Public awareness
Preparedness
Engineering practice
Engineering
knowledge
Political will
Application &
implementation
Before Manjil earthquake
Low
None
None
Very poor
Average
None
None
2003
Good
Good
Low-Average
Average
Good
Acceptable
Low-Average
Iran’s preparedness achievement indexes before and after IEHMP
Source: Ghafory-Ashtiany
Researchers
Graduate students
Seismic stations
Strong motion stations
Research laboratories
Books and technical reports
Budget
Investment for laboratories
Before 1990
Less than 40
Less than 20
15
270
2
Less than 100
10 Years<IRR700m
1989: IRR104m
USD3,100,000
2003
More than 400
635
78
More than 1,100
12
More than 1,000
10 Years>IRR128,000m
2003: IRR85,000m
USD21,500,000
Scientific achievement of the IERMP programme
Source: Ghafory-Ashtiany