International Blue Crescent Relief And Development Foundation who have launched an community rehabilitation and reconstruction project after the Bam Earthquake in Iran, held a training about "Disaster Awareness and Disaster Preparedness" for the representatives of various NGO's of Iran.

The trainings were implemented in Marmaris( Turkey ) between the 18 th and 26 th of April 2004 in the facilities provided by Think-Thank Of Turunç and supported by Catholic Relief Services(USA) and American Friends Service Society.

Disaster Awareness and Disaster Preparedness Trainings were held between 18 th and 26 th of April 2004. Thirteen representatives from different non-govermental organizations in Iran attended the trainings.

The repsentatives from the Red Crescent of Iran , Children Support, Green Front Iran, Family Planning Association , Kerman NGO's House and Network Environmental came for the trainings and shared our experiences.

A press meeting was held on 19 th of April 2004 with the attendance of Prof. Dr. Ahmet Mete Işıkara, Muzaffer Baca the Vice-President of the International Blue Crescent , Cemalettin Özdemir Sub Governor of Marmaris district, Ali Fuat Fidan the major of Turunç. At the meeting Muzaffer Baca, Cemalettin Özdemir and Ali Fuat Fidan issued statements focused on the importance between NGO's of two countries

Prof. Dr. Ahmet Mete Işıkara held training sessions about “Living with Earthquakes and Our Responsibilities”.

“A to Z First Step Public Disaster Awareness and Light Search-Rescue Trainings” were provided by AKA(Search and Rescue Association-partner of IBC) for the participants.

In this trainings issues like disaster preparedness, things to be done during and after an earthquake, preparing family disaster plans, non structural precautions, fire, first aid, light search and rescue, organizing light search and rescue, building and structural information, building triage, stress syndrome after trauma had been focused on. These trainings were performed practically.

On Saturday the 24 th of April, participants put in practice what they had learned in seven training sessions and successfully completed Light Search and Rescue application exam.

On Sunday the 25 th of April, participants made applications on real debris as exercising their experience got during the trainings. They also formed their coordination units in the application area and after the application they prepared coordination reports just like they should do in a real disaster event.

Participants shared their experiences and related documents about the country that they work. So we had the chance to gather information about the problems that occured after the earthquake in Iran and what they need and what should be done.

At the trainings all the materials related with the training were given to the participants as a training set. After a busy week of training, on the 25 th of April 2004 participants got their certificate in a small ceremony from Prof. Dr. Ahmet Mete Işıkara.

At the after training evaluations, participants notified that these trainings were so useful for them and for their country and that they want to apply them in their country.

Participants also notified that the International Blue Crescent had been with them right after the Bam earthquake and through its relief and reconstruction projects continues to assist the suffered victims.. They emphasized that these trainings should continue and the support that is being given to their country is so important.

We state that we will be by their side as much as possible and we congratulate them for their success at the trainings.