Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live Today
Iran Quake
Aired December 30, 2003 - 11:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Now, aid for earthquake victims in Iran. With the number of dead climbing past a staggering 28,000 today, help has arrived from America. A U.S. military plane carrying 80 people and medical supplies has now landed near the quake zone.
CNN's Kasra Naji is at the center of the at the destruction in the ancient city of Bam, Iran. He joins us live via videophone.
What will the Americans be doing there?
KASRA NAJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, the Americans are about 83 of them. They're part of the need assessment team. They are basically here to assess the needs, medical needs here, and also provide some help too, because some medical supplies have been brought in for them a day before yesterday by U.S. military, which is based in the Gulf area.
So that plane yesterday brought in much needed modern medical supplies, and the American aid officers here today are basically going to use that supply -- those supplies, and also assess the needs here. Their presence here, and also the presence of the American soldiers here were the first time in 20 years has led to speculations that maybe this catastrophe has brought the two sides to a point to put their animosities behind them.
I talked to some of the American aid officials here. They say that their main aim is to help the victims of this huge earthquake. But if this is going to lead to better relations, that is better still, they say.
On the Iranian side, they culled water over this wave of optimism here. We have President Khatami saying there will be no change in quality, any improvement in the relations between the two countries until the administration of George W. Bush changes his attitudes and its policies toward Iran -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Kasra Naji, reporting live from Bam, Iran this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired December 30, 2003 - 11:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Now, aid for earthquake victims in Iran. With the number of dead climbing past a staggering 28,000 today, help has arrived from America. A U.S. military plane carrying 80 people and medical supplies has now landed near the quake zone.
CNN's Kasra Naji is at the center of the at the destruction in the ancient city of Bam, Iran. He joins us live via videophone.
What will the Americans be doing there?
KASRA NAJI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, the Americans are about 83 of them. They're part of the need assessment team. They are basically here to assess the needs, medical needs here, and also provide some help too, because some medical supplies have been brought in for them a day before yesterday by U.S. military, which is based in the Gulf area.
So that plane yesterday brought in much needed modern medical supplies, and the American aid officers here today are basically going to use that supply -- those supplies, and also assess the needs here. Their presence here, and also the presence of the American soldiers here were the first time in 20 years has led to speculations that maybe this catastrophe has brought the two sides to a point to put their animosities behind them.
I talked to some of the American aid officials here. They say that their main aim is to help the victims of this huge earthquake. But if this is going to lead to better relations, that is better still, they say.
On the Iranian side, they culled water over this wave of optimism here. We have President Khatami saying there will be no change in quality, any improvement in the relations between the two countries until the administration of George W. Bush changes his attitudes and its policies toward Iran -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Kasra Naji, reporting live from Bam, Iran this morning.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
