Bam: a year after the earthquake

The Bam citadel: two thousand years of history reduced to rubble

Boxing day 2003 will remain in the minds of the people of Southern Iran for the rest of their days.

The historic city of Bam was brought to a shuddering halt by a devastating earthquake.

Most of the mud-brick buildings in Bam, including its ancient citadel collapsed, 26,000 people are estimated to have lost their lives.

Another 30,000 were injured and with buildings and lives shattered, 75,000 people were made homeless.

Breakfast's Julia Botfield has been to Bam to look at how the city is beginning to re-build itself

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Monday 20 December: Rebuilding a historic city

Families made homeless are still living in tents one year on

In the first film, Jules visits the historic citadel of Bam, now completely unrecognisable due to the damage.

In the southern city she discovers that families are living and sleeping in converted shipping containers and tents, left with only a handful of their own possessions.

But out of the chaos comes hope and Jules discovers work starting on a new emergency room for the city which locals hope will be ready in two months.

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Tuesday 21 December: The British woman caught in the chaos

Ruth remembering the earthquake

British traveller Ruth Millington left home on Christmas day 2003, for her trip of a lifetime.

She hadn't been away from home for a day when her trip turned into a nightmare as caught in the force of the earthquake she was to find herself digging with bare hands in an attempt to free those trapped in smashed buildings.

Ruth was live in the Breakfast studio talking about her experience

Ruth Millington's story from BBC Newsonline, December 2003

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Wednesday 22 December: A new life for the orphans

Resources are still needed for the orphans

More than 2,500 children were orphaned in the disaster, many were taken in by relatives, the less fortunate were sent to state orphanages.

However one family have taken in thirteen orphans, boys and girls between the ages of five and 12 and Jules tells of the generosity that people of shown to make sure they have as normal a life as possible.

We also spoke to Ali and Roya's sister, Shifteh Tavakoli-Honey, who is a director of the charity Action for Orphans.

Julia Botfield travelled to Iran with Action For Orphans

Action for Orphans website