Saving lives in Kashmir and Pakistan now

By Abdul Malik Mujahid

As a boy scout I camped virtually next to the epi-center of earthquake where today 650 children are trapped under the rubble of their own school building. Their cries can still be heard. Parents and neighbors are trying to dig them out. But they have no professionals, no earth moving equipment, no k9 dogs to guide the search.

The earthquake occurred 4 days ago, there is still hope for those buried beneath. Search and Rescue teams have recovered people alive after almost a week in Mexico and Iran. 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:

1. Search and Rescue teams with K9 dogs and earth moving machines
2. Heavy equipment carrying helicopters

Pakistan has none of these. Our country does. We helped in Mexico, Turkey 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, earth moving equipment and 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. 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 tens of thousands of people still trapped under the rubble. There is one college where 1500 students are trapped. People can still hear their voices according to the news reports but they are using just hands and shovels to remove the rubble. No professional search and rescue operations, just parents and neighbors who survived are trying to dig out.

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.

One Ramadan thirty years ago, I ended up walking 15 miles up and down the beautiful valley of Kashmir passing through Benjosa to Rawlakot since roads were blocked because of a storm. Whenever I cannot sleep I imagined the green bowl shaped valley of Banjosa. It helps put my mind to sleep. Last night the same image kept me up.

May God give sabr to those still under the rubble and those who have survived.

Date Created: 12/10/05

Date/Time Last Modified: 10/19/2005 12:44:41 PM

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