(Sindh Monitor and SAPAC), Several Washington Sindhis Met This Afternoon to Discuss Strategies and Action Plans on How to Help Flood Victims in Sindh
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Piyara Dosto, Responding to an appeal by Mr. Munawar Laghari (Sindh Monitor and SAPAC), several Washington Sindhis met this afternoon to discuss strategies and action plans on how to help flood victims in Sindh. A fellow Washingtonian Sindhi also made his suggestion via telephone. Various options including the following were discussed and their pros and cons were identified based on what is practical, realistic, and what would of no or only marginal value to flood victims: 1. Organize a campaign through local churches, mosques, mandars, and temples to collect clothing, medicine, funds, blankets, and other items required by displaced persons; 2. Approach local businesses including large retail stores to join in the campaign of donations of cash and items; 3. Approach leaders of the U. S. Executive and Legislative branches and ask to increase further aid and to take steps to ensure accountability and fair distribution of aid to all provinces. 4. Approach international charitable organizations s(uch as Oxfam, Red Cross, and CARE), whose main offices are located in Washington D.C. to volunteer help of Washington Sindhis and ask them to ensure that all help was extended fairly to all provinces and to start programs where Sindhi-Americans could designate that their donations be targeted to flood victims in Sindh. To reinforce the involvement of local communities throughout the United States, the gathering thanked Mrs. Heide and Mr. Charles Bursch, who organized an event yesterday at their local Zion Lutheran Church in Iowa City, IA, for the flood victims in Sindh. Almost $900 was collected yesterday, with more pledged to be donated. Funds collected are being furthered to the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum and Lutheran World Relief for flood relief in Sindh. After discussion and presentation of ideas, the following 3-point action-plan was agreed: 1. Start a campaign of public awareness among mainstream Americans about the plight and appeal to them to make generous donations to the flood victims through their favorite charities. Approach members of Congress that SAPAC has contacts with to write letters of support for flood victims and to help raising awareness among the people of the United States about this calamity. 2. Contact head offices of international charities to make them aware of new wave floods in Sindh and appeal them to ensure that all their aid activities are extended to all provinces and to start programs that Sindhi-Americans could designate their donations to be spent. 3. Collect funds and important items that cannot be purchased in Pakistan and organize a shipment of these items to Sindh. The items are to include medicine to prevent stomach illnesses and other water borne diseases that are likely to be suffered by flood victims. Arrange purchase of portable water treatment systems and other water purification medicines for delivery to flood victims. In the end, a resolution was passed to urge other overseas Sindhis to create awareness about the flood victims among the broader communities in their local areas and appeal to them to extend their help to the flood victim Khalid Hashmani McLean, Virginia, USA .