EARTHQUAKE IN PAKISTAN

RELIEF WORK BY MEMON COMMUNITY

On Saturday the 8^th October, 2005, 3rd Ramzan 1426, at about 8.30 a.m. a violent earthquake shook various parts of Islamabad , NWFP and Azad Kashmir. The rector scale recorded an alarming magnitude of 7.5 and in a few moments cities/villages crumbled into rubbles. Thousands of people died and thousands were badly injured. Millions of people were rendered homeless.

The Memon Community rose to the occasion and Memons in Pakistan and other countries all over the world helped the earthquake victims with the co-operation of World Memon Organization.

Several relief camps in collaboration with All Pakistan Memon Federation  were set-up in various parts of Karachi to collect Cash, tents, blankets, quilts, clothing, food grains, medicines, warm clothes etc.

A few days after the devastating earthquake, which ruined various parts of the country, a delegation comprising of various prominent members of WMO and APMF visited the affected areas to ascertain the exact needs of the victims and to make appropriate arrangements to cater to their requirements.

Memons residing in different parts of the world particularly U.A.E. , U.K. , South Africa , Botswana , U.S.A. , Sri Lanka have arranged to send cash, tents, cloth, medicine, blankets etc. through various High Commissioners/embassies worth millions of rupees.

Various medical teams were sent to affected areas through the co-operation of Patel Hospital and Memon League.

First medical team consisting of surgeons, physicians and paramedical staff and a fully equipped ambulance in collaboration with Patel Hospital reached Pakistan Air Force Base Muzzafarabad on 10^th October, 2005, within 2 days of the earthquake. Memon League’s medical team comprising of surgeons and physicians and paramedical staff reached the earthquake area within a few days of earthquake and served the injured victims for over a month. Two other teams of Patel Hospital went to the affected area to serve the distressed people.

World Memon Organization with the co-operation of Patel Hospital has established a Medical Centre (Field Hospital) in the Tent city in Sector H-11 of Islamabad . A team of doctors including a lady doctor is giving medical services (including medicines) free of charge to the earthquake victims. Large quantity of medicines has been received from U.K. through the courtesy of Patel Hospital .

The Medical Camp has been visited by Federal Ministers, members of the National Assembly and representatives of many international NGOs, UNICEF representatives and lately by the representative of World Health Organization. WHO has termed our Medical Camp as the best in the Tent City of H-11 in Islamabad . Representatives of WHO have agreed to donate medical equipments/medicines etc for our Medical Camp.

Uptill now, goods consisting of food, blankets, quilts, tents, cloths, medicines, etc. worth over Rs. 60.00 million (US$. 1.00 million) have been distributed among earthquake victims. The above referred relief work was carried from goods and donations received locally except 500 tents received from Botswana, tents, blankets, warm cloths received from Japan and large quantity of medicines received from UK through the courtesy of Patel Hospital.

Donations/funds collected/committed through various WMO chapters, amounted to      over Rs. 30.00 million (US$. 510,000) out of which Rs. 20.00 million (US$. 338,000) has been received. The balance amount of  Pound Sterling 1000,000 (US$. 172,000) would be received in due course of time. Out of the total fund Rs. 1.76 million  (US$. 29,400) has been utilized for acquiring 300 Tents, which have already been distributed. An amount of Rs. 30.00 million (US$. 500,000) has been earmarked for building houses for the earthquake victims.

Haji A. Razak ARY president of WMO met the Prime Minister of Pakistan alongwith   Dr. Ali Imran, Head of Medical Camp and presented a brief report of the welfare activities carried out by WMO and requested him to earmark a piece of land, where WMO would build 200 houses, a Mosque and a Medical Centre. The PM appreciated the noble work carried out by WMO and the Memon Community at this difficult juncture in the history of Pakistan .