World press review on earthquakes in Iran (August 11-13, 2012)

Two large quakes with magnitudes of 6.4 and 6.3 struck East Azerbaijan

province on Saturday afternoon, flattening villages and injuring

thousands around the towns of Ahar, Varzaghan and Harees, near the

provincial capital of Tabriz. On Monday, August 13, the Guardian

published an article titled "Iran earthquakes: Tehran criticised for response

to disaster."

“Iran's government has faced criticism from politicians and the public

over its handling of relief efforts after two large earthquakes killed

300 people and injured thousands in the north-west of the country.

Members of parliament representing the affected areas complained about

the shortage of tents for survivors… Although officials announced on

Sunday, less than 24 hours after the disaster, that search and rescue

operations had finished and all survivors had been freed from the

rubble, some residents expressed disbelief that authorities could have

reached some of the most remote villages so soon”, writes the

Guardian.

The author of the article presents a particularly sharp critique

of the leader of the country, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who left for

his planned visit to Saudi Arabia despite the disaster in his country.

"In every other part of the world, the tradition is that when natural

disasters happen, leaders will change their plans and visit the

affected areas in order to show their compassion … and observe rescue

efforts," the Guardian quotes Asr-e Iran.

“The lack of coverage, some said, contributed to a sense that the

central government in Tehran did not care much about the people of

northwest Iran, most of whom are Azeri Turks, the biggest ethnic

minority in the country,” the Guardian concludes.