Many are wondering how Americans can be helpful to the people of
Iran who were affected by the serious (6.5. Richter) earthquake in
northwestern Iran.
Today, members of the White House staff, responding to a call from
the National Iranian American Council (NIAC) and the West Asia
Council, held an off-the-record conference call to clarify factors
related to economic sanctions that affect the public's ability to
engage in philanthropic response to the disaster. The call was
announced by D. Paul Monteiro, Associate Director, White House Office
of Public Engagement. Representatives of the State Department,
Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Agency for International
Development were on the call to answer questions.
A summary of the content of the call was distributed by NIAC
afterwards:
"During the call, the Treasury Department indicated that they
have received very few applications from nonprofit organizations
seeking to contribute to earthquake relief efforts. NIAC believes the
expense and complication of applying for specific licenses has
deterred many organizations from providing relief assistance, and
NIAC reiterated the recommendation that the administration issue a
general license that would facilitate more rapid disaster assistance
from more organizations.
Official guidance is posted here:
NIAC went on to say: "This week, NIAC also worked closely
with Congressman Kucinich (D-OH) to advance a letter
urging President Obama to issue such a general license and for the
'administration to provide public guidance that financial
institutions are permitted and encouraged to facilitate all legal
transactions that have been licensed by the U.S. Government.'
"The Kucinich letter was also signed by Representatives Keith
Ellison (D-MN), John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Henry C. “Hank”
Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Donna F. Edwards
(D-MD), Jackie Speier (D-CA), Michael M. Honda (D-CA), John L. Mica
(R-FL), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), John W. Olver (D-MA), Jim
McDermott (D-WA), André Carson (D-IN) and Barbara Lee (D-CA)."
Other non-profits seeking to help include:
Moms against Poverty (they obtained a license to provide
temporary shelter, food, medicine, and trauma counseling)
Relief International (application pending)
Children of Persia (application pending)
Child Foundation (shipping emergency supplies)
Iranian American Muslim Association of North America (shipping
emergency supplies)
American Red Cross is not accepting funds for Iranian relief
efforts, at this time, because it Iranian counterpart, The Iranian
Red Crescent, is not yet accepting aid from other Red Cross entities.
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