Consider Giving to Pakistan Earthquake Victims

I understand that Americans at least are still reeling from our own disasters -- Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. Yet, I've found the silence with which such a major disaster as that seen in Pakistan/Kashmir has been greeted quite deafening. I am not certain if it is because people are feeling helpless and overwhelmed in the wake of back-to-back catastrophes. Do people feel as if they've given all they can spare already, particularly in the face of rising fuel and heating costs? Or whether people here are less sympathetic to a world region where we were not long ago dropping some bombs? Or maybe it's because most of the victims are Muslim and a lot of people don't care if a bunch of poor, brown Muslims die under debris or from illness or exposure. I really am not sure yet.

I do find it interesting that there just doesn't seem to be a lot of energy out there at the moment -- despite widespread reporting of the South Asia earthquake and its consequences -- to encourage people to donate and help these latest victims of nature. Especially given the fact that it's still Ramadan, a major season of festivity for Muslims roughly equivalent to Christmas or the Jewish High Holidays or Chinese/Japanese New Year, etc. So I am hoping to start a trend. I challenge you to join me in making a donation to a charity that has been working hard in the region for a long time. I challenge you to have an open mind and give to Islamic Relief, a charity of which the UK's Prince Charles has recently said:

"I have nothing but the greatest admiration for the way in which Islamic Relief responds to these dreadful disasters.

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to Islamic Relief and other organisations like them".

Islamic Relief does a lot of work for orphans in the region and they've got a great Ramadan kids' site. It has music, it has games, it has cute cartoon orphans! It's Hilal's Ramadhan Fun Calendar!  (I think it's sort of like an advent calendar for you Christians out there.) Such a bonus. What more could you ask for? For citizens of the USA, please click here to donate.

Another charity you might consider for a donation, no matter how small, might be Pakistan's Red Crescent Society, the local equivalent of the Red Cross here in our country. They claim to be the largest non-governmental humanitarian organization in Pakistan. I'm certain that giving to any number of international western-based organizations (Oxfam, Save the Children, Red Cross, etc) might also go a little way to helping earthquake victims.

I challenge you to care, just a little more, for people here and for people there.

Comments

[Kashif]

Thanks for putting up the donations info. At this point we are in dire need of tents. Please spread the word.

[PinkThunder]

Hi Kashif -- thanks for your message and the trackback. Your Pakistan Earthquake blog at http://www.pakquake.com is providing a vital humanitarian service in a time of urgent need.

You say tents are needed for the many homeless and displaced people. What's the best organization handling this? To whom should donations be directed. How much does a single tent cost? With more information, it will help us to encourage more assistance.

[Evelyn25MURPHY]

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