Sunday, October 09, 2005

Pakistan Earthquake



I awoke this morning to the awful news that a magnitude 7.6 earthquake had hit Pakistan and portions of India and Afghanistan. Officials are now saying that the death toll will exceed 18,000 in Pakistan.
The quake's epicenter was 58 miles north of Pakistan's capital, Islamabad, where most of my relatives from both my mom and dad's sides of the family live. Needless to say, we spent a very distraught morning, attempting to get in touch with family members to make sure they were okay. Everyone is fine, Alhumdullilah, though shaken. My father's sister, for instance, lives across the street from the collapsed building they keep showing on the news. My father's brother-in-law is from Muzzafarabad in Kashmir and is still attempting to contact his relatives.
While recent natural disasters all around the world have reminded us of our own mortality and vulnerability, we still do have control over how we react in these disasters. I think everyone should help the people of Pakistan as best as they can. I'm sure that well-known and reputable agencies such as the Red Crescent and the Edhi Foundation are accepting donations for the Pakistani quake victims. I plan on contacting the Pakistani Consular General's office in Manhattan for further information about how we can make a difference in this desperate time.
The coming days will see the number of dead increase; we will see injured people and displaced families. As citizens of the world, we cannot just sit aside in an apathetic stupor; we must work together to alleviate the pain of others as far away as they may be.
Please help...and please keep the people of Pakistan in your thoughts and prayers.

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