Aijaz Walji

Supreme Leader: Lots of work remain to be done for the Bam quake victims
Bam, Kerman Prov, Jan 16, IRNA -- The Supreme Leader of the Islamic
Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei had an unexpected four-hour
visit of the quake-devastated city of Bam on Friday morning during
which he attended the various parts of the city and talked to the
quake victims, getting informed of the realities and problems after
the killer quake.

The leader then in an address to the Bam residents at the city`s
mosque said that the main objective of his second trip to Bam
following the recent earthquake was to condole the bereaved Bam quake
victims once again personally.

Ayatollah Khamenei added, "The Bam Quake disaster was of tragic
dimensions for all of us, and is in fact a great sorrow for all
people and all those whose hearts beat for Islam and humanity."
Emphasizing that both the region`s residents and the country`s
officials shoulder heavy burdens regarding the Bam earthquake, the
Leader added, "The officials have so far offered valuable services,
but lots of work remain to be done for the bam quake victims,
completing which calls for close cooperation and harmony between the
officials and the region`s residents."

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution reiterated, "If the national
disasters lead to making aware the public of the deficiencies, and to
making up for the past ignorance, they can be regarded as blessings."
He added, "Such disasters must help us get closer to God, and
double the trust in God.

Stressing that the most important task of the system`s officials
currently is making up for the shortcomings with which the Bam quake
victims are entangled, the leader said, "The current stage, is the
phase for reconstruction of Bam. This city must now rise form the
riddle of the debris of its ruins prosperously, proudly, and
strongly."

The leader at the end referred to the close cooperation of the Bam
quake victims with the country` officials, as well as the hard working
regional authorities, as a symbol of the closeness of the hearts and
minds of the people and their authorities in the Islamic Republic of
Iran.

Ayatollah Khamenei also visited the Behesht-e-Zahra Cemetery of
Bam and prayed for the salvation of the recent quake`s victims.
In another address to the regional authorities, referring to his
Friday visit of the various parts of Bam, the leader said, "While
noticing the results of the efforts made since the quake, I could see
that there are lots of work to be done yet, and lots of unperformed
tasks."

Ayatollah Khamenei emphasized on the need to organize and
harmonize efforts aimed at assisting the Bam quake victims more than
before in order to offer more effective, speedier service to them.
Emphasizing that the temporary residential camps need to be
completed most urgently, the leader said, "simultaneously,
pre-fabricated cabins need to be erected, and anti-earthquake
structures need to be built as soon as possible for the people."
The leader added, "Clearing up the quake debris, too, needs to
be done urgently, so that the people would make sure that the Islamic
system is serious in its reconstruction efforts."

Referring to the complaints made by the residents of certain
parts of the devastated city of Bam regarding the methods applied in
distribution of the humanitarian aid and their basic needs, he said,
"The people still do not have access even to pure drinking water,
and this issue needs to be seriously and immediately tackled and
solved."

Ayatollah Khamenei also stressed on the need to heed the sanitary
and psychological problems with which the quake victims are seriously
dealt with.

Ayatollah Khamenei returned to Tehran Friday afternoon

It is narrated that Imam Sadiq (as) has said:

A Muslim always has three characteristics: knowledge about the
religion, good management of life, and perseverance in the faces of
calamities.