From Christian Science Monitor

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.

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.  

Today through the efforts of Azar Abbasi, his team of volunteers and PDC member support we have been able to mobilize an effort to transport one container full of Relief Items for victims of the Pakistan Earth Quake. JFK is flooded with Relief Items bound for Pakistan and we are having problems with our container shipment. However Azar Abbasi is in New York today negotiating with PIA to ensure that the container gets on a PIA flight headed for Pakistan where the folks from Rural Support Network (www.rspn.org) are waiting to receive the Relief Items consignment.

Visit this section to find out how you can help continue to support the relief effort.

I've spent the last few days working with a large number of enthusiastically dedicated individuals who have been sorting out thousands of boxes of donations, transferring them from ADAMS to a warehouse and onto a tractor-trailor.

We've had to turn away a large number of donors. Some have been sending in regular clothes and an unusual odd assortment of utterly unnecessary goods. Now only tents, medical supplies and blankets are being accepted; no exceptions.

ADAMS Center needs a large number of volunteers for the next few days to sort out donated goods. I was there last night and was enlighted by the comradarie and spirit of the team effort.

Volunteers are needed for the following days and times: 

    Thursday. 5pm - 9pm

    Friday. 9am - 9pm (several volunteers must come in the morning)

I am working with PIA and ADAMS Center in Sterling and have collected over thousands of items, mashallah. Many people are giving with good intentions but there are people that during the month of Ramadan, are cleaning out closets. And what I mean is, OLD USED UNDERWEAR

We have gone through boxes and have felt disgusted with what people donate. I say if you can give something that you have ..please do so..but if you don't then it's okay.

Dear Friends:
This is Sameena Nazir from Pakistan. I need your urgent attention to our latest update below. Please take a few minutes to read and help if you can. Please also pass on this message to others you know who may be able to help. Thanks.

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UPDATE: Monday, October 16, 2005
Our Pakistani NGO, PODA has sent two teams to the worst hit areas of the earthquake in Kashmir.   

While communities from Seattle to New York have provided extensive information on drop-off locations, there has not been a similar level of coordination for the Greater DC community.

Individuals and organizations in the area need to come out and offer some space to store relief items and a handoff to PIA and other distribution networks.

The current priority is to get as many tents to affected populations as soon as possible. The winter weather will wreak greater havoc on an already grim situation. See also these news items from BBC and NPR.

Pakistan International Airlines is flying supplies out to Pakistan from New York City for FREE on Saturday Oct. 22. They are in need of the items below. There are several drop off points in DC, MD and VA area. 

The DC drop off is  at 1320 Vermont Ave NW Washington DC 2005, you
can contact Sadaf Tajammal at (703) 200-4626 to drop off at her place.