JEDDAH, 20 October 2005 — The International Committee of the Red Cross has established a website to provide information about the earthquake-affected areas of the North West Frontier Province and Pakistani Kashmir. The website (www.familylinks.icrc.org.) gives information about the affected areas and can be useful in tracing missing people.
Pakistan Consul General Masood Akhtar said the mission in the Kingdom and all others in other overseas locations had a good response from donors. “The response from Saudi donors and philanthropists especially has been overwhelming,” he said.
The consulate has collected 10 million Pakistani rupees to help the destitute back home. In addition, a Pakistani donor has contributed half a million rupees. The consulate has also received $1,970 from other donors.
“The consulate is getting good support from airlines including Saudi Arabian Airlines, PIA, Gulf Air, and Emirates in transporting the donations received in kind,” Masood Akhtar said.
The Jeddah-based Pakistan Journalists Forum (PJF) has collected over SR200,000 from a Pakistani donor Nadeem Farooqi and his friends, and entrusted it to Pakistani Consul (Visa) Shaukat Munir Kiyani. The PJF has also donated a mobile X-ray machine, tents blankets, medicines, foodstuffs, water, and clothes for the quake-hit people.
Donations can also be credited directly to a specially opened account (0021-240723-009) at Bank Al-Jazira, Masood Akhtar said, adding that he had sent personal messages to 35 leading Saudi businessmen seeking their help for the quake victims. “We still need tents, blankets and medicines,” he said.
The consulate has sent mobile teams to Madinah, Yanbu and Taif to collect donations aside from establishing contact centers in other major cities and owns of the Kingdom.
Responding to an appeal from Pakistan Ambassador Abdul Aziz Mirza, Pakistan Writers Club and Pakistan Awami Forum organized a poster campaign in the capital seeking help and assistance for the quake-hit people.
Members of the two organizations have been a nightlong camp daily for collecting relief goods from the community. They have collected more than 50 tons of blankets and quilts, tents, medicines, warm clothing and dry eatables.
Aside from the ambassador, Farid Farrukh, deputy head of the mission, Mohammad Raza Odhoto, head of the chancery, Manzar Hafiz Mian, community welfare counselor, Pervez Ahmed Junejo, community welfare counselor, and Brig. Aslam, military attaché, have visited the camp and appreciated the efforts at the camp, according to Faiz Al-Najdi, one of the camp organizers.
