EXPATS JOIN TO SEND RELIEF
The Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities have joined together to arrange
fund-raising activities to aid relatives and friends in the earthquake-stricken subcontinent. In addition, King Abdullah is sending planeloads of relief goods to Pakistan for the victims. Several Saudi associations in Riyadh and Jeddah have also set up relief fund-raising efforts on individual levels.
The earthquake is a big tragedy to our people and our nation, said an official at the Indian
Consulate General. So far, they haven t received any directions from the ministry on what the missionaries should do. The quake, its epicenter in north Islamabad, is believed to have killed an estimated 30,000 people.
Saudi and expatriate officials said humanitarian aid is going to be the main focus of the relief efforts. Usually the local communities would get together and help the relief efforts, and he assured that consulate would be a channel for them. If anyone is willing to come forward and donate anything, the consulate would help those in anyway possible, a Saudi official said. Official from Pakistan Embassy said that in Riyadh a relief cell for victims has been established. All the Pakistanis and other nationalities are welcome to send funds through the Embassy. The consulate will extend consular services around the clock for any Pakistani who may wish to travel to Pakistan and also help them getting necessary reservation with Pakistan International Airline or any other airline, he said. Pakistani workers in Jeddah have also asked their Saudi friends to join hands in relief fund. We do appeal to all the capable members in town to support the victims financially, said Rehmat Khan, a member of Kashmir Committee. His area of Abbottabad has been affected badly and several of his own buildings and houses were damaged.
There are several injured in our area and several big buildings have collapsed, Khan said. The injured people need treatment and are waiting for aid in their regions. Recently, Pakistan has come out from the train crash
disaster in July, and now earthquake, said Saleha Ahmed, a Pakistani social worker. All welfare organizations from Southeast Asian community must team up to donate the victims, and we have received a good response from our Saudi friends and others. Shaukat Ijaz, a member of the Welfare Committee Western region, said, The time we have is to think immediately to help serving the suffered. Most of the residents in Kingdom have their relatives, family friends, who are affected from this disaster. We all have to team up and serve them with our financial help as well as moral support. Mian Waqar Majeed, coordinator, Izaz Committee, said, The disaster has been disrupted the journey of the country s economic reforms.
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