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在线翻译:
szdaily -> World -> 
Iran’s worst floods in 70 years kill at least 76
    2019-04-16  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

IRAN’S Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has approved drawing up to US$2 billion from the country’s sovereign wealth fund for relief and reconstruction after the nation’s worst floods in 70 years had killed at least 76 people, state media reported yesterday.

On Sunday, Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said the weeks of heavy rain across the country had caused an estimated US$2.5 billion in damage to roads, bridges, homes and farmland, forcing more than 220,000 into emergency shelters, state media cited ministers as telling lawmakers.

“Using the National Development Fund is authorized if no other sources are available,” Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said in a letter to President Hassan Rouhani read out on state television.

However, he urged the government to explore other budgetary measures to fund the relief efforts before tapping the sovereign fund.

In Geneva, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said on yesterday an estimated 2 million people needed humanitarian assistance as a result of the floods.

It had launched an international emergency appeal seeking 5.1 million Swiss francs (US$5.1 million) to expand support by Iran’s Red Crescent to an additional 30,000 families — equivalent to about 150,000 people.

Khamenei’s letter did give an amount but Morteza Shahidzadeh, head of the sovereign wealth fund, said earlier that Rouhani had asked to withdraw US$2 billion and Khamenei had in principle agreed.

The fund is worth about US$92 billion, according to the Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute, which tracks the industry.

The floods have affected 4,400 villages, damaged 14,000 kilometers of roads and destroyed more than 700 bridges.

They have left aid agencies struggling to cope and the armed forces have been deployed to help those affected.

(SD-Agencies)

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