Bam goes on world heritage list

A ceremony will be held in the destroyed Iranian city of Bam Monday marking the earthquake that struck the city one year ago and celebrating its inclusion on UNESCO's list of World Heritage sites, the UN cultural organization said.

The historic city on the ancient silk route was turned to rubble by a deadly quake December 26 that killed almost 31,000 people and left 75,000 homeless.

UNESCO said the ceremony would be attended by its deputy director-general for culture Munir Bushenaki, and by Iranian Vice President Hossein Marashi.

It said that, as the organization spearheading international efforts for the cultural survival of Bam, UNESCO would use the occasion to stress the need for international solidarity.

Meanwhile, it said an international conference would be held in collaboration with the Italian government in the second half of next year to mobilize support for the restoration of the city.

In Paris, officials said a Franco-Iranian committee set up in the wake of the disaster to channel aid has raised more than 2.8 million euros (3.8 million dollars), most of which will be spent on re-equipping the city's hospital.

Some of the money will also be spent on creating a mobile seismic detection network and creating a detailed digital map of Bam to help in reconstruction.