The first day of Sub-regional Project on Seismic Hazard and Risk Analysis of UNESCO Tehran Cluster Countries (Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan and Turkmenistan) was held by IIEES on Nov. 30.
Suggested by IIEES and approved by UNESCO, the meeting was aimed at updating the studies on earthquake hazard zonation and risk assessment in the region as well as developing south-south cooperation as a UNESCO and UN policy.
The venue for the meeting was Niyavaran Cultural – Historical complex in north of Tehran. Some 30 earthquake specialists and managers of the respective organizations from the mentioned countries together with a group of international consultants of ECO and UNESCO in this field, gathered and discussed about the applicable methodology to study and assess the earthquake risk in the region.
Expressing her satisfaction with the presence of professors and scientists in the meeting and appreciation of IIEES efforts, Ms Laroche, head of the regional office of UNESCO in Iran, mentioned the development of scientific cooperation between the four countries of Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Turkmenistan as a new chapter of partnership to promote international safety by earthquake risk mitigation in the region. He appreciated the efforts of IIEES in this regard.
Attended in the meeting on behalf of the organization UNHABITAT, Dr. Siamak Moghaddam, emphasized on the need to expand scientific cooperation to mitigate the risk of earthquakes in the region. He mentioned the long history of cooperation among Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan on earthquake risk mitigation as a success for UNESCO.
Pointing to the importance of the IIEES foundation after Rudbar-Manjil earthquake, Prof. Mohsen Ghafory-Ashtiany, on behalf of IIEES, introduced the achievements of IIEES over the past quarter century of its activity: holding seven international conferences on Seismology and Earthquake Engineering, training specialists in M.Sc. and Ph.D. courses, holding 17 nationwide earthquake drills in schools, etc. At the end, he emphasized on improving the management and awareness in risk reduction and resilience increase, and expressed his hope for Iran to assist the neighboring countries in this regard as a powerful executive arm.
The fourth speaker was Dr. Nasiri, the Secretary General of the National Commission of UNESCO in Iran, who mentioned the seismicity status of Iran as the main reason to found IIEES.
At the end of the meeting, Dr. Allavy as the representative of ECO, appreciated IIEES and all those involved in the formation of this event, saying that their mission in strategic committee of ECO regarding earthquake and other natural disasters was to have a regional approach.
