How we can save lives in Kashmir now

Announcements :: 2630

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.

Printed from the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago website (www.ciogc.org).
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