I have a lot to say about the topic, but would rather divert your attention to my blog, which I just recently updated with a link to an article I wrote about a great fundraiser I attended in New York City.
By Karl F. Inderfurth, David Fabrycky, and Stephen P. Cohen WASHINGTON - Time is running out for tens of thousands of survivors of the 7.6 earthquake that devastated parts of Pakistan on Oct. 8, claiming more than 73,000 lives and leaving 3 million homeless. Winter is fast approaching. Experts believe 1 million people are at risk of hypothermia. Two hundred thousand villagers in more remote areas may soon be cut off by snow. A "second wave" of deaths from cold, hunger, and disease is feared.
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PAL-C (Pakistani American Leadership Center), PAKPAC (Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee), APPNA (Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America), Rising Leaders, National PSA, OPEN (Organization of Pakistani Entrepreneurs of North America (National), NAPA (National Association of Pakistani Americans, PAANA (Pakistani American Association of North America), COPAA (Council of Pakistani American Affairs) and PAC (Pakistani American Congress)
We URGENTLY need more helicopters to airlift survivors and fly relief supplies, tents to provide shelter from the cold, and medical care for the sick and wounded. Please help us lobby your congressperson, President Bush and NATO to send more aid. Winter is only a few weeks away! Enter your zip code to submit a quick and simple petition.
The most urgent priority need on the ground right now is for shelter and warmth. Below is a list of resources on donating tents - Please keep in mind that tents should be 'winterized' and water-proof, accomodate at least 5-8 people and where possible, should have some bathroom facility
The purpose of this petition is to request Oprah to do a show on the recent earthquake in South Asia and the havoc that it has caused to millions of people left without enough shelter to survive through the severe winter season. This event has not gotten nearly the kind of media coverage it deserves, especially since a lot can still be done to save the 3.3 million lives that could be lost over the next few months. We think an Oprah show on the earthquake aftermath and how people can contribute could help turn the situation around...
"Oxfam also said the United States... had given less than one fifth of their fare share - calculated according to the relative size of their economy as a proportion of the total from major industrialized countries" -- Associated Press
"It is not right to sit with the money for reconstruction for one year from now if it is a question of whether people will still be alive" -- Jan Egeland, head of U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
"We are racing against time to shield the victims from cold weather in the mountainous region" -- Pervez Musharraf, President of Pakistan
The news for the past few days is that JFK is filled beyond capacity with donated goods and that PIA is having to turn back donations.
The DC area community, led by Azar Abbasi, Farah Chohan and a large number of volunteers have been spending their weekends loading and unloading donations from the community.
The Washington DC area is quickly mobilizing resources in response to the aftermath of the earthquake that devastated South Asia on October 8, 2005.
The purpose of this website is to consolidate those energies to bring about a greater level of communication, awareness, and opportunities for further support.
