Monthly Archives: April 2019

Public Libraries working with the Community to Assist Flood Victims in Iran

Many of you will have read about the extensive flooding that has occurred in the Islamic Republic of Iran over the past few weeks. The weather event that began in March has affected 28 of 31 provinces across the country. According to authorities 78 people have been killed and 1,076 injured.  It is estimated that 10 million people have been affected and that as many as 2 million may be in need of some form of assistance. At least 296,000 people reportedly remain displaced. The widespread damages to the road and transportation network are making villages and small towns inaccessible.

 

Against the background of this national disaster the Iran Public Library Foundation and the public library sector are working with the community to support the citizens of Iran, and in particular children and young people. Under the banner ‘Spring Kindness’  a program has been launched to distribute books, games and toys to children in flood ravaged areas with libraries acting as deposit stations and the library infrastructure being used to deliver these items  – don’t you love the the convoy of Bookmobiles below?

 

Libraries are also supporting relief efforts through use of their spaces to store goods and cook food.

 

There are some wonderful images on the Foundation’s Instagram feed @iranpl. Futher information on the floods is available on the reliefweb site

A big ‘hats off’ to our colleagues in Iran!