Friday’s earthquake in Iran is an unimaginable tragedy. When I consider the deaths and destruction, it’s just overwhelming. It’s simply impossible for me to even imagine the pain of those in Bam struggling to cope with the suffering around them.
Though it’s little consolation, it is heartening to see so many people and countries from around the world stepping up to offer assistance. I’ve seen reports that aid is coming from dozens of countries, the United Nations, and non-profit organizations. Here in the U.S., I’ve noticed that the American Red Cross and the National Iranian American Council, among others, are facilitating aid to earthquake victims and their community, in addition to assistance from the U.S. government.
That said, it was disheartening to see that the Iranian government announced Saturday that aid would be welcome from everywhere — except Israel.
I’m not in a position to criticize a country that has so lost so many and so much from this natural disaster, and I know that Iran’s government doesn’t even recognize Israel as a nation. But are things so bad in the Middle East that Iran is unwilling to even accept charitable donations from an adversary in a time of national crisis? Aren’t these rare tragedies a time when people can set aside differences, no matter how stark, and help a neighbor shoulder a burden?
The mind shudders.