Trauma counselling begins in Bam

The French health NGO Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) has despatched two psychologists to counsel survivors of Bam's devastating earthquake. Specialising in counselling children in crisis situations, they are working in cooperation with the Ministry of Health. The UN has estimated that the number of cases of post-traumatic stress disorder will be very high - about 40 per cent of the surviving 100,000 population will suffer, they say. Claudio Mochi, an MSF emergency psychologist, has been visiting survivors' tents and setting up group therapy sessions. He sees about 30 patients a day and the sessions can last anything up to a couple of hours. More than 30,000 people lost their lives in the quake, that struck the city on 26 December. Seeking psychological counselling is uncommon in Iranian society, but Mochi says that survivors are keen to talk. He also receives referrals from doctors, which makes it easier for those who are reluctant to take the first step themselves. He told IRIN that curious passers-by often stop to join the sessions, which are proving to be more productive than he had hoped. "Their culture helps them to be very open with us - it's incredible - they are really ready to talk," Mochi told IRIN. Nasser Marasomi lost two brothers and a sister in the earthquake, including many members of his extended family. As well as his own two small children, Marasomi now feels responsible for his siblings' children. Through an interpreter and over endless cups of tea, he has been telling Mochi of the difficulties he faces. "What is incredible about Marasomi is that after all the tragedy he has been through, he has the strength to rebuild - he wants better living conditions for his family and this is keeping him going," said Mochi. The sessions are also helping to identify other basic problems. "One of the things that has come out in the discussions is the daily stress that people are facing - a lot of material help is still missing. This is adding to their psychological problems," he said. Marasomi said he is finding it hard to accept charity, and that he feels humiliated when he is doled out his rations. Mochi told IRIN that many survivors have been saying that they would like a more personal, human approach when the aid is distributed. They object to supplies being thrown off the back of lorries, which they then have to scramble around for. Mochi believes pride is an important factor in the survivors' mental well being. Another survivor said the earthquake has helped him to re-evaluate his life. He managed to salvage a home video camera from the ruins of his home, and since the earthquake happened, he has been filming the devastation around him. "My children are too young to understand what has happened. I will show them this video when they are older so they realise the value of life - life isn't about money and material possessions, because as this earthquake has shown, all that can disappear in a second," he told IRIN.