3. - usaid

eached by a stee1L ladder
and can be used for
sleeping quarters. FYom
6 to 10 people could live
in each unit. There are
no inside toilet f'aci-lities
.
Villagers who were asked
about these units responded
with enthusiasm =and
a desire for more of them.
Unit costs were reported at
$1,000 each. The fol-lowing
is based on a Mission
report : After havfing noted
the surprising acceptance
of this type of dwelling,
it my be that the earthquake
has been an indirect
German "A" f'rame - f'ront view advantage to the eastern
Khorassan rural section
in that their tratlitj-onal
home construction concept
of adobe and mud, with its
accompanying heavy arched
entrances and thick mud walls and ceilings. may be in for an evo1ut;ionary
change toward twentieth century alpine living.
ACTION TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAN AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS
Disaster relief assistance began to move into the devastated areas during
the course of the late hours of August 31. Within the area, some of the
survivors, not too affected by post-disaster shock, gave limited help to
their families, relatives, and neighbors. What was left of public facilities
and services in the immediate vicinity was put back into operation.
Gonabad, 30 kilometers north of Kakh, became the focal rallying point for
the Iranian relief program.
The initial concerted effort during the first twelve hours after the quake
came f'rom the Iranian Military, who moved in medical units and gave
logistical responses from the resources of the Imperial Army 6th Division
Headquarters located in Meshed. The Shah appointed Major ~eneral Hoj jat
Kashani to supervise the mobilization of aid. The War Ministry esftablished
an air bridge- between Tehran and Meshed to carry in relief sufplies. In
addition to using the air strip at Torbat Heidarieh, repairs were rnade to
the air strips at Gonabad and Ferdows to allow landing and take-of:€' of
Dc-3's. .