Croatian Aid for Iran

Zagreb, Dec 30 - Croatian Prime Minister Ivo Sanader reported that the first shipment of aid for the quake-hit areas of Iran would be sent on December 31. Sanader called on companies and citizens to join in the campaign of collecting and sending humanitarian aid to Iran. Croatian Ministries of Defense, Economy and Foreign Affairs as well as more than 20 leading Croatian companies are included in the relief effort.

The first shipment, which will be sent on a Croatian national air-carrier Croatia Airlines plane includes blankets, tents, baby food, and other items.

Croatian citizens, who have been bringing their donations to the warehouses of Red Cross Croatia (HCK), have also helped raise some 500,000 kuna (82,000 $) by dialing the number of a special phone line opened two days ago. Along with the tents, sleeping bags, stretchers and blankets it sent to Iran in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the HCK has been raising funds to be donated to the International Federation of the Red Cross.

According to the latest reports, at least 30,000 people lost their lives in the disastrous quake which hit south-eastern Iran on December 26.