Powerful earthquake on Iran-Iraq border kills over 350That's the headline. We should expect to see posters of pitiful children out in the cold and snow, with their simple brick living structures in ruins. Before we donate for the relief and more importantly before the governments of the Western/First Worlds jump in with both feet and their taxpayers' money we sh ould pause and reflect.
Iran recently received $16 billion of previously frozen money from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Iran should be flush with funds for the relief efforts. Iraq and Iran and both major oil producers and have lots of fresh funds flowing into their treasuries.
Yes, they need technical assistance and engineers since those countries' schools probably don't produce those. But we should not allow them to be too picky about who they'll allow to work there. I.E. no religious restrictions. And they should be paid by the respective Iranian and Iraqi governments.
And one more thing; as far as money, we are using disaster money for Harvey, Irma and Maria. We could use that money ourselves, whether charitable or government, thank you.