JEDDAH/RIYADH, 12 October 2005 — The call from Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah for a Kingdomwide fund-raising campaign to support the victims of a massive earthquake that has killed more than 35,000 people in Pakistan and India, got a good response from citizens and expatriates.
King Abdullah gave his order during a Cabinet meeting on Monday. “The king has issued his directives to launch a fund-raising campaign throughout the Kingdom so as to enable all people to express their sympathy and support to the victims of the disaster,” said Culture and Information Minister Iyad Madani.
King Abdullah said Saudi Arabia would stand by Pakistan and India and their peoples and ordered the dispatch of medical and relief teams to both countries. The first relief plane left Riyadh on Sunday with 70 tons of food supplies, tents, floor mats, blankets, along with medicines and medical necessities.
The Saudi Red Crescent Society (RCS) has begun an air bridge of planes from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan in order to provide assistance. A team of doctors from the Ministry of Health and RCS went to the region two days ago to assess and determine the areas in greatest need of a field emergency hospital.
“The air bridge was arranged yesterday carrying medical supplies and a complete medical team to establish a field hospital as well as a large number of relief and health workers to provide medical and relief assistance,” said Dr. Saleh Al-Tuwaijri, deputy director of RCS.
The Saudi RCS is also coordinating, through the Saudi Embassy in Pakistan, its efforts with other relief organizations such as the World Health Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
“The Saudi RCS is providing medications and consumables as well as establishing a complete field hospital and supplying the local Pakistani hospitals and health care centers with what they need,” said Al-Tuwaijri.
The ICRC has set up a South Asia Earthquake website (http://icrc.org/home.nsf/home/webfamilylinks) to help people exchange information about family members in the disaster zone. Those in the affected areas can register on the site to inform their families that they are safe and well, either directly or with the help of the Red Cross/Red Crescent staff. People seeking news of relatives can consult the list of those who have registered and search for names. The site is in English. Information from the website will be made available locally on lists posted in public places or broadcast on radio for people without access to the Internet.
For Siddik Khan, a driver working for a Saudi family in Jeddah, the website means hope for him to find out what happened to his family. “I have not been able to contact any of my family or friends to let me know that my wife and children are alive,” he said. His employer added, “He has been like a wild man since the earthquake trying to contact anyone there. His brother in Kuwait told him that all their houses had been destroyed and his family was in a tent but at least they’re alive except for a sister who has not been found yet.”
The family is arranging to send him back to arrange for accommodation for his family. He wants to travel there as soon as he can.
The Islamic Development Bank has allocated $11.8 million for aid. Dr. Ahmed Mohammed Ali, president of the bank, said that $1.6 million was a grant to provide immediate relief supplies and $10.2 million was a loan to help rebuild vital institutions there. The International Islamic Relief Organization is also launching an immediate relief campaign and has allocated SR1 million for providing food, water, clothes and other needs. It called on benefactors to donate through its offices in the Kingdom and its bank account 31900010777023 at Al-Rajhi and a second bank account 10477702000102 at National Commercial Bank.
“People here want to help but don’t know how and I’m glad that the king and so many organizations are launching these fund-raising campaigns,” said Dr. Asma Siddiki of Effat College. “Saudis are not good at promoting their relief efforts; they do it quietly which is the Islamic way, and the Western media rarely report what we do,” she said.
The Pakistani Embassy has been overwhelmed with donations of food and clothing.
Dr. Saleh Al-Wohaibi, secretary-general of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY), expressed condolences to the country’s Ambassador Abdul Aziz Mirza in Riyadh. In a letter addressed to the ambassador, Dr. Wohaibi said the disaster had shocked the entire world and the Muslim world would pray for victims.
“We are urgently in need of medicines, tents, blankets and tinned foods,” said Manzar Hafiz Mian, community welfare officer at the Pakistan Embassy. Donations in kind or cash can be handed over to the embassy in Riyadh and donors will receive a receipt for their contributions from the mission. Mian said that media publicity would no doubt generate an even greater response.
Mohammed Raza Otho, head of chancery at the embassy, said that the mission was working round the clock to coordinate efforts with community members. “Although, we have not made any requests for donations from non-Pakistanis, it was heartening to note that other philanthropists came forward to support this worthy cause,” Otho noted. He said one philanthropist had sent SR50,000.
The Pakistan Cultural Group in Riyadh has set up a team to collect donations.
Sri Lankan Expatriates Society (SLES) in Riyadh has requested its members to assist the victims. SLES President A.S.M. Illyas said that the goods collected would be handed over to the Pakistani Embassy in Riyadh.
The Pakistani mission has set up collection centers in major towns. The Pakistani International School is collecting relief materials. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has agreed to deliver the material to the affected areas.
