wfn.org | Islamic Society of North America Earthquake Aid

[George Conklin <gconklin@igc.org>]

*Appeal to Help and Pray for Victims of South Asian Earthquake*

* *

?O ye who believe! Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer; for God
is with those who patiently persevere.? (Quran 2:153)

October 10, 2005

*Plainfield**, IN* ­ The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) calls upon
all Americans to come forward to help the victims of the recent major
earthquake (7.6 magnitude) that devastated parts of Pakistan, Kashmir,
India, and Afghanistan.

More than 2.5 million people were affected by the quake in the region,
according to U.N. reports. Official sources put the death toll at between
20,000 and 30,000, but the number is expected to rise significantly as more
victims are found under the rubble. An additional 42,000 people have been
injured according to government reports. Residents in the affected areas
will be facing a tremendous challenge in the coming days and months, due to
lack of food, water, first aid, shelter, and medical supplies in remote
areas, that are often only accessible by helicopters.

We are coordinating with several national and international relief agencies
to aid and strengthen the relief and recovery efforts. *ISNA has also
announced the donation of $20,000 to a fund *for the victims of the quake.
Your support will be critical in providing aid and relief for the victims.
*You can donate online at www.isna.net <http://www.isna.net/> or mail your
checks to ISNA,* South Asia Quake Fund, P.O. Box 38, Plainfield, IN 46168.

ISNA appeals to the Muslim community to take the following actions:

1. Donate generously to the relief organizations identified by ISNA.

2. Pray for the victims of the earthquake.

3. Reach out to your neighbors of other faiths and encourage them to help
in this disaster.

At this time of tragedy we must help those in need with our support and our
prayers.

A number of organizations are involved in relief efforts. Following is a
list of some of these organizations:

*_Information and Relief Effort:_*

*_ _*

1. Islamic Relief Worldwide www.irw.org <http://www.irw.org/>

2. ICNA Relief www.reliefonline.org <http://www.reliefonline.org/>

3. Hidaya Foundation www.hidaya.org <http://www.hidaya.org/>

4. Indian Muslim Relief & Charities www.imrc.ws <http://www.imrc.ws/>

5. Edhi Foundation http://paks.net/edhi-foundation/

6. Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) www.imana.org
<http://www.imana.org/>

7. Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America (APPNA)
www.appna.org <http://www.appna.org/>

8. Doctors without Borders www.doctorswithoutborders.org
<http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/>

9. Pakistani Islamic Medical Association www.pima.org.pk
<http://www.pima.org.pk/>

10. Embassy of Pakistan www.embassyofpakistan.org
<http://www.embassyofpakistan.org/>

The Embassy of Pakistan has listed the following items as immediate needs
for the region:

  1. Shelter: Tents, plastic sheets, blankets, mattresses
  2. Food Items: Pre-cooked tinned food (Halal), high energy
     biscuits/bars, survival rations
  3. Medicines: Antibiotics, typhoid medication, fracture related kits,
     first aid kits, surgical instruments, water purification tablets.

*/Please contact the embassy of Pakistan for further information for such
items at (310) 0441-5145 and (310) 446-6695 or visit the website./*

*For further information, please contact:
*Dr. Sayyid M. Syeed, Secretary General
P.O. Box 38 Plainfield IN 46168

*317-*839-8157

*syeeds@isna.*net

*www.*isna.net