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Relief International

May 14, 1997

Dear Concerned,

Relief International (RI) is a US based humanitarian non-profit (501 (c) 3), non-political and non-sectarian organization that provides emergency relief, rehabilitation, and development services to peoples affected by manmade and natural disasters. RI is registered with the US Agency for International Development and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees as animplementing partner.

As you are aware, last Saturday an earthquake with the magnitude of 7.1 R shook Eastern Iran, killing at least 2000, injuring 6000, destroying 200 villages and leaving about 30,000 homeless.

RI is assisting the victims of this devastating disaster. RI has established relationships with pharmaceutical companies and other organizations specializing donations of pharmaceuticals to non-profits. These agencies have provided medicines for victims of the earthquake free of charge. Presently RI has 20 tons of medicine and medical supplies in its warehouse ready for dispatch to Tehran. The cost of transport and shipping (discounted rate of $1.95/kg) to Tehran is roughly $40,000.

RI would like to request your assistance in facilitating the transport of the whole or portions of this humanitarian cargo through your donation and/or sponsorship of international transport and domestic trucking costs. Your help would be most gratefully appreciated.

Should you require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me
310/441-0097.

Sincerely yours,

Farshad Rastegar
Executive Director

Attachments

RELIEF INTERNATIONAL RESPONDS TO EARTHQUAKE IN IRAN

Once again villages and towns are leveled by a devastating earthquake in Iran. The third major earthquake in four months has caused considerable loss of life and affected major damage to shelter and infrastructure this time in Eastern Iran.

RI IS ASSISTING VICTIMS OF THE QUAKE

- Shipments of essential pharmaceutical and medical supplies to community-based hospitals in Iran, such as Kavosh Hospital, Dr. Sapir Hospital, and to doctors from the affected regions for treatment of earthquake victims with severe trauma injuries.
- Provision of needed emergency medical supplies to IFRC in Iran for dispatch to hospitals in the quake-affected areas.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Over 20 Tons of emergency orthopedic supplies and pharmaceuticals are now available for immediate air shipment to Iran. These emergency supplies are made available to RI on a donation basis through pharmaceutical companies and other emergency partner organizations. RI needs your donations to defray the cost of transport of pharmaceuticals at discounted humanitarian rates. The cost of transport of 20 Tons is $40,000. Hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of emergency medicines and supplies can be sent to Iran with your sponsorship of these shipping costs. Every dollar donated covers the cost of shipment of medicines with a wholesale value at least 10-15 times your donation.

PLEASE HELP

- Sponsor part of a shipment to Iran, or
- Sponsor a full 500-lb. shipment ($2000) to a recipient hospital in the name of your organization, business, or family.

ACCEPTING DONATIONS OF ANY AMOUNT TO ASSIST VICTIMS

Please send checks to:
Relief International
2288 Westwood Blvd. #216
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Attn.: Iran Earthquake Emergency

DEDICATED VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

RI is seeking volunteers to support in the Los
Angeles office and the warehouse in coordinating this emergency response.
Please call for more information: 310/ 441-0097.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Toll free: (888) 778-RILA
Tel: (310) 441-0097
E-mail: riusa@ri.org
//www.ri.org
Attn.: Farshad Rastegar or Rachel Rosental

TAX-EXEMPTION: Relief International is a tax-exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and under section 237021(d) of the California Revenue and Tax Code. RI is registered as a PVO with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and is an implementing partner of UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and UNICEF. All contributions are tax deductible within the limits set by law.

MORE ABOUT RELIEF INTERNATIONAL

Mission Statement:
Relief International (RI) is an emergency relief, rehabilitation, and development agency providing timely and efficient services and material resources to assist victims of natural and man-made disasters worldwide. Established in 1990 and governed by a volunteer and independent Board of Directors, RI is a non-discriminatory, non-political, and non-sectarian organization which, while maintaining organizational independence, coordinates its efforts with other international relief agencies to serve the needs of the communities.

RI is a 501(C)(3) non-profit organization, is a registered private voluntary organization (PVO) with the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and is a member of the Disaster Response Committee of InterAction, a consortium of US non-profit agencies. Headquartered in Los Angeles, California, RI has maintained regional offices in Baku (Azerbaijan), Dushanbe (Tajikistan), Vladikavkaz (North Ossetia, Russia), and Grozny (Chechen Republic, Russia).

IT IS RELIEF INTERNATIONAL S MISSION TO

- Address at a grassroots level the health, food, shelter, sanitation, income generation, and other needs and the most needy, particularly women and children, as well as those international cases which do not receive due attention.

- Serve as a bridge between short-term relief and long-term development by applying a holistic, multisectoral approach to maximize disaster relief efforts toward promoting self-reliance.

- Rely on the participation of beneficiaries, those affected by disasters, by utilizing local humanpower and community resources at every stage of needs assessment, project planning, and implementation.

- Protect lives from physical injury or death and/or psychological trauma where present.

Since 1990, Relief International (RI) has expanded its relief efforts to disaster victims in Iran, Kurdistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Chechnya, and Afghanistan. In each of these efforts, RI's programs assist and mobilize vulnerable communities to help themselves.

RI coordinates its efforts with other international organizations, and is an implementing partner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). RI receives major funding and contributions from USAID, the US Department of State, UNHCR, European governments, and the Soros Humanitarian Foundation, and other private and corporate contributors.