WASHINGTON, 12 October 2005 — In the wake of the massive earthquake that struck Pakistan wreaking havoc in Azad Kashmir and the North West Frontier Province, and also affecting Afghanistan and India, prominent American Islamic advocacy groups are calling on American Muslims to help the victims of the disaster.
The Muslim Hurricane Relief Task Force, www.mhrtf.net, is offering aid to areas of Pakistan, Afghanistan and India devastated by the 7.6-magnitude earthquake that left at least 30,000 people dead.
The Washington-based Council of American Islamic Relations (CAIR), Islamic Circle of North American (ICNA), Islamic Relief, Islamic Society of Greater Houston (ISGH), Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Kind Hearts, Life for Relief and Development, Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), Muslim American Society (MAS), Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), Muslim Ummah of North America (MUNA), North American Islamic Trust (NAIT) have united together to help with earthquake relief by creating MHRTF, which was initially created to help alleviate the suffering caused by Hurricane Katrina.
CAIR also urged Americans of all faiths to pray for those killed, injured or left homeless by the earthquake.
“Just as Americans came together to help the victims of recent Gulf Coast hurricanes, we must do whatever we can to help those suffering from natural disasters in other parts of the world,” CAIR Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper told journalists.
Pakistani organizations actively raising funds to help victims of the earthquake include the Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America, (APPNA), Rising Leaders, Pakistan Public Affairs Committee (PAKPAC), Council of Pakistani-Americans (COPA), Pakistani-American Leadership Council (PAL-C), The National Council of Pakistani Americans (NCPA), and several other community organizations.
APPNA, [email protected], is also seeking physician volunteers to help in the earthquake areas.
In Washington, the Pakistan Embassy has established a Crisis Management Cell to provide round-the-clock consular services to the Pakistanis and Pakistani-Americans who wish to travel to Pakistan.
The cell is also coordinating the travel of relief teams to Pakistan. The cell will be providing information on damage and rescue operations.
Pakistan’s Charge d’Affaires Mohammad Sadiq has asked the Pakistani American community to contribute generously. He met with President Bush Sunday to brief him on the devastation caused by the worst-ever earthquake in the history of Pakistan.
Sadiq used the opportunity to request for helicopters to help with the search and rescue efforts and for provision of much needed food and medicines. He also briefed Bush on the urgent need for disaster relief equipment including earthmoving equipment, portable communication equipment and tents.
The Embassy of Pakistan opened a designated account to receive donations. The President’s Relief Fund allows donations to be made online at www.embassyofpakistan.org. All donations by organizations and individuals will be posted on the Embassy’s website.
In New York, Pakistan’s UN Mission in New York is working with UN officials to coordinate the world body’s response to the calamitous situation brought about by Saturday’s earthquake.
