Iran - Two years and eight months after the Bam earthquake, CdB travelled to Iran to conduct a post-evaluation of Medair's relief and rehabilitation efforts.

After the devastating 2003 earthquake in Bam, Iran, Medair launched a massive relief and rehabilitation programme in the country. One of the biggest Medair projects was the construction of 516 houses, with CdB partially financing the completion of 373 of them.

One and a half years after the project ended, CdB wanted to see whether Medair's work had fulfilled expectations, and how it had benefited the community. Hylton Cannon, Medair's former Country Director in Iran, was asked to accompany CdB's evaluation analyst, Grégoire Labhardt, on the return trip to Bam.

"One of the major concerns when constructing the homes," said Cannon, "was to ensure that seismic or earthquake-resistant specifications were used. However, it was impossible to predict if these specifications would actually stand up to an earthquake."

Earlier this year, Medair's houses were put to a severe test when a 5.3-magnitude earthquake struck again in Bam.

"As one can imagine I had no idea what I was going to find when visiting the projects," said Cannon. "Wow is the word to use. All the projects I visited with the donor were met by very happy beneficiaries and yes, with houses intact and with no damage from the earthquake at all. Well done to our contractor!"

CdB's evaluation analyst was also enthusiastic, expressing that he was "really pleased by the results." His evaluation concluded that the quality of Medair's construction work was good and sustainable. He was also able to conclude that Medair had built a good relation with beneficiaries, and that Medair's staff involvement was strong and "one of the main factors for the success of the project."

Other points highlighted by CdB included that the beneficiaries demonstrated a strong feeling of ownership of their homes, with some doing extra work on them, and people generally taking good care of the homes. All of the beneficiaries expressed gratitude for the support they had received.

"I would like to thank Medair for its work," concluded CdB's evaluation analyst. "According to what I have seen, I could note that the money spent by the people of Switzerland was used effectively: it brought relief to the people of Bam, helped them to recover from the earthquake, and the support brought by Medair got a high degree of satisfaction from the beneficiaries."

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On 26 December 2003, the city of Bam in southeastern Iran was struck by an earthquake. Over 26,000 people were killed, 75,000 people were left homeless, and virtually all the buildings in the city and surrounding villages were destroyed or severely damaged. Within days after the earthquake, Medair had a team on the ground. After a massive initial relief effort, Medair's rehabilitation phase included the provision of sanitation and the reconstruction of essential infrastructure, including over 500 houses.

About Medair Medair brings life-saving relief and rehabilitation in disasters, crises, and conflict areas by working alongside the most vulnerable. Its staff are inspired by their Christian faith to care for people in need, providing practical and compassionate support, regardless of race, religion, or politics. The organisation's consistent focus ensures maximum efficiency and accountability, with ISO 9001 certification worldwide. Founded in 1988, Medair's unwavering commitment continues to bring hope to the world's most vulnerable.

About Swiss Solidarity (CdB) The Swiss Solidarity Foundation is Switzerland's humanitarian solidarity and fund-raising platform. Swiss Solidarity led by the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR idée suisse and also works closely together with the private and print media. Work in the field is carried out by experienced Swiss relief organizations according to precise stipulations. Swiss Solidarity is currently working with over 30 aid organizations.