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How
we can save lives in Kashmir now
Raising
money is important to assist the millions who have survived, but two crucial
things are still needed for those tens of thousands who are buried under the
rubble:
- Search
and Rescue teams with K9 dogs
- Heavy
equipment carrying helicopters
Pakistan has none of these.
Our country does. We helped in Mexico
and Iran
with this type of help
and saved lives even seven days after the earthquake.
Money,
food and shelter are for those who survived, but there are tens of thousands
who are still under the rubble waiting to be rescued.
Please
call President Bush thanking him for the 8 helicopters he is sending but
request to send at least 100 more, which can carry heavy equipment to remote
areas along with the Search and Rescue teams with K9 dogs. Please
call White House now (202) 456-1414 http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
and your Senator & Congressperson http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/
Here is why it is important: I have been to these areas several times
throughout my life. I have gone camping as a scout there and have repeatedly
visited the area. These are extremely narrow valleys and roads, where they
exist, are so narrow that one vehicle has to wait until the other passes. Even
these roads are blocked now due to landslides and there is no way to bring in heavy equipment
except through helicopters. There are two schools in one of the beautiful places Balacote where more
than 650 children are under the rubble there. People can still hear their
voices according to the news reports but they are using just hands and shovels
to remove the rubble of these four story buildings. No professional search and
rescue operations, just parents and neighbors who survived are trying to dig
out.
Pakistan’s
top needs are helicopters to bring in heavy equipment and the search and rescue
teams with K 9 dogs. Please keep praying for those still under the rubble. The collection of funds is important, please do donate, but it is
urgent to get more helicopters to carry more search and rescue teams with K9
dogs.
In the last Iranian and Mexican Earthquakes, people were being dug
out alive even after seven days. For
Iran
in Bam Earthquake the California Task Force Two was sent with 70 firefighters
from the Los Angeles Fire Department - the Office of Foreign Disaster
Assistance activated them. The Virginia Task Force One was also sent with 73
members who included doctors, paramedics, and structural engineers. They were
activated by the US Agency for International Development. Please
call White House now (202) 456-1414 http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ and your Senator
& Congressperson http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/
Although
the first 72 hours are crucial in saving most lives after the earthquake, the
record shows that people have been saved even after seven days have passed.
We
need to rely on God and do our best to save lives now.
Peace
Abdul
Malik Mujahid
Chairperson
the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago
P.S.
the Council has established Kashmir Earthquake Relief Fund. You can donate at http://www.ciogc.org or mail your checks to the
Council at 330 East Roosevelt
Road, Suite G5, Lombard, Illinois 60148. Even if you have given your
donation through another organization, please inform us of the total amount and
the organization you have donated to.
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