Country Information
Founded: (Persia has been in existence since around 600BCE) Name changed from Persia to Iran officially in 1935
Land Area: 1,640,000 Square Kilometers (slightly larger than Alaska)
Climate: Arid to semi-Arid with subtropical conditions near Caspian Sea
Agricultural Land Usability: 10%
Natural Hazards: occasional droughts, floods, dust storms, sandstorms, earthquakes
Environmental issues: Air pollution, oil pollution along Persian gulf, low supplies of usable water, water pollution from both raw sewage and industrial waste
The People
Population: 68,688,433
Infant Mortality Rate: 40 deaths / 1,000 births
Life Expectancy: 70 years
Major Diseases: no quantifiable risk factors
Religions: 98% Muslim, 2% combined Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian and Baha’i
Literacy Rate: 80%
Unemployment rate: 11%
Population below the UN-established Poverty Line: 40%
Special Conditions
There are 952,802 Refugees from Afghanistan; 93,173 from Iraq.
Identifying the Need
The massive refugee population is creating large communities where need exists. Currently local NGOs and the Iranian government are taking care of refugees, however this is causing a strain on resources.
Some areas in Iran are still rebuilding from the 2004 Earthquake.
How The Zakat Foundation Has Responded
Earthquake Disaster Relief – 2004
The earthquake of 2004 struck the historic city of Bam with a terrifying rumble. So many people lost lives and homes in just a few minutes. Scenes that would be repeated in 2005’s Pakistan earthquake were being lived out by Iranians who clawed through rubble to find their loved ones. Under the supervision of Iran’s Red Crescent, The Zakat Foundation was able to provide aid along with many other international organizations. In this humanitarian crises the need for shelter was severe and The Zakat Foundation was able to provide 15 tons of food supplies in rented trucks.
