Statements at the Final Session of the Visit to the Earthquake-Affected Areas of East Azerbaijan

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

We thank God Almighty for all His blessings; these calamities are also blessings.

Every calamity that comes from You is a blessing.

Whoever You give suffering to, that is comfort.

You put Your servant in darkness

So he may see that radiant face.

They strike at every vein and bond of mine

So that they may connect me with Your love.

This is how we must view these natural and unnatural calamities. We can use these afflictions that arise as a ladder for ascension; we can prepare a staircase for elevation; we can provide a platform for jumping. We thank God for granting us the opportunity to come here and see the region up close; even though the five or six hours spent on this visit were not complete, and we could only see a few points closely. If there had been time and opportunity, we would have liked to see more.

Well, thanks be to God, the trip to Tabriz was realized in this manner. Mr. Shabestari, in a meeting we had on the twenty-ninth of Bahman with our Azerbaijani brothers and sisters, said, "Come to Tabriz." Well, as he said, that is what happened; we came to Tabriz! We hope that God Almighty will arrange for us to come to Tabriz again.

My bond and affection for Tabriz and Azerbaijan is an inherent one. Before the revolution, I visited Tabriz twice, went to Khameneh, went to Shabestar; after the revolution, I came several times again, visiting Khameneh and Shabestar. I saw those places up close. I found the people of Tabriz to be different from everywhere else. The first trip I made to Tabriz after the revolution, when I returned to Tehran, I told Imam, "Sir, the people here are different from everywhere else." Well, wherever we had gone, people showed kindness and expressed their affection for the revolution; but Tabriz is different. This is our affection, and we hope that, God willing, it will be realized; we will see how it turns out.

The efforts that have been made have been good. I personally have experience in relief during earthquakes and floods; in very old years, even before the revolution, I was present in the ruins of earthquakes; we went there, formed a relief group. Well, at that time, there were no government efforts; the Red Lion and Sun of that day was nonexistent. In the earthquake of Ferdows, where this large city was almost leveled, in the course of two months, the Red Lion and Sun provided minimal food and clothing assistance to the people; now tents and blankets were nothing, what they provided was very little and negligible! At that time, I went to the pulpit and spoke, asking the people what the Red Lion and Sun had given them. They told me that in those two months, they had received a hundred grams of sugar! Accordingly, they had provided a few meager items, not the necessary goods for living. Well, we went there, saw, and worked. When I was in exile in Iranshahr, there was a flood; almost ninety percent of the city was destroyed, most houses collapsed, and the palm groves were ruined. We also provided relief there for a while with those who were exiled. Therefore, I am familiar with the difficulties of this work. The work that has been done this time in Azerbaijan is unprecedented; both in terms of search and in terms of initial relief and tent installation. For the victims, tents are one of the primary necessities. When there is a tent, the victim whose house has collapsed feels that they have a shelter; this is very effective in maintaining psychological security. Well, thanks be to God, we saw that many tents have been set up and temporary housing has been provided. Subsequent efforts, God willing, should continue in this manner.

What is currently needed in this region are heating supplies. Now the gentlemen said that in two months - more or less; it is with God - housing will be built for the earthquake victims; however, what is necessary before this are blankets, heating supplies, hygiene supplies, and they need baths; these are very necessary and urgent requirements. Among the things that must be prioritized for the people are these baths and hygiene supplies; these are very necessary. Drinking water is available in some places, but it may not be available in others; water must be provided for them quickly. These are essential needs. We should not be satisfied with just bringing bottled water for them. Well, bottled water is very good; however, it makes a difference if a family can go under the tap in the morning to wash their hands and faces. These have an extraordinarily significant psychological impact. For us sitting outside, these may not seem very important; but when someone has lived in an earthquake or flood environment, they understand how significant these things are.

Well, thanks be to God, the governor is energetic and active, and the other agencies have cooperated; may God, God willing, preserve them all. I ask you to pursue these matters with the same vigor. Right now, heating supplies are needed here. Apparently, in this region of Varzeqan, one of the villagers there told me that it will get cold here in fifteen or sixteen days. The area is a cold one. In these days, I was following the temperature, and they said that in one of these places, it was about 10 degrees. In this season, 10 degrees at night is cold weather. This requires heating supplies. They have no clothing, no sweaters, no blankets, no bedding; everything is buried under the rubble. Now, until they can bring things out, until they can shake them off, until they can use them, it will take time; will it happen or not? Therefore, these people need assistance.

As we were coming, I heard on the car radio that the Red Crescent announced not to send goods; give us money. Very well, this is good, there is no problem; it means that there may be a bit of humiliation in sending clothes and such; it is not very good - although it is not a problem at the beginning - but what is the problem with sending blankets? For example, people should send blankets, or send these fiberglass quilts, or send sleeping bags; what is the obstacle? For instance, suppose someone can prepare a hundred sleeping bags from the market and send them here, what is wrong with that? This is a good thing. Or suppose someone can prepare five hundred blankets and send them. There are those who have money and want to help; they buy blankets from the market, give them to you, relieving you of the burden. Therefore, please advise that this kind of expression of self-sufficiency should not be made by the people. Some things, if people go to the market to procure them, buy them, and give them to you, it makes your work easier, and the people feel better. They went and bought blankets, gave them to you, and you gave them here; this is better than depositing a million tomans or five hundred thousand tomans or however much money in the Red Crescent account. Pay attention to the psychological aspects of the matters.

In any case, we ask God Almighty to assist you who serve and work hard; also to help our dear people who have sent gifts from various regions, or sent money or will send, and God willing, guide their hearts to continue this work; especially to help the faithful and dear people living in this region. The Arasbaran region is a region of courage; those who are familiar with history may know this. Arasbaran is one of the regions whose people are known for their bravery; this region has such a characteristic. Of course, all of Azerbaijan is like this. The Azerbaijani valor and determination that manifested itself during the years of sacred defense also showed itself during the revolution, and has always been evident until today; that is preserved in its place; but the Arasbaran region also has a characteristic in this regard; now, these dear people have encountered this incident. Such incidents always occur. As the late Shahriyar said:

The world is full of events and calamities.

The world is full of sorrows and calamities.

Look, it is abundant; calamities are many, sorrows are many. The whole world is full of these incidents. In any case, these matters arise. We hope that, God willing, God Almighty grants them all patience and perseverance, and they can, God willing, continue their life path.

Peace be upon you and God's mercy and blessings.