Azerbaijan, Baku, Sep.19/ Trend F.Milad/
The Iranian government has approved the payment of five million rials (some $410) in gratuitous loans to each family whose property was damaged during the 6.4-magnitude earthquake which rocked the north-western city of Ahar on August 11, the Mehr news agency quoted First Vice-President Mohammad-Reza Rahimi as saying.
The government has also pledged to provide all the newly established buildings with water and electricity and pay special loans to buy home appliances.
The Iranian government has allocated $49 million for rebuilding and re-constructing the homes of the quake affected victims in the East Azerbaijan province, the country's Interior minister Mostafa Mohammad Najjar said.
The order to allocate funds for quake victims has been approved by the country's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the cabinet of ministers.
On August 11, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake rocked the city of Ahar, near the provincial capital of Tabriz, at 15:53 local time. The quake struck 60 kilometres northeast of Tabriz at a depth of 9.9 kilometres.
Another quake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale jolted Varzaqan and Haris districts, which are located near Ahar and 11 minutes later at a similar depth. The epicentre of the quake was 49 kilometres northeast of Tabriz.
According to the latest reports, 306 people died and there are over 3000 injured.
Mohammad Najjar added that there has been a total of some $347 million in loans allocated for rebuilding the quake affected areas.
The four per cent, $347 million loan would be used for fixing and rebuilding about 29,000 houses, which breaks down to around $12,000 for each house.
Additionally, a $4000 grant would be given to each quake affected family for living expenses.