The Swat Plea

This one’s from Dr.Awab’s Blog. He will be collecting funds and hopefully flying to the affected areas next week. This is one initiative from a person among the Pakistani Blogosphere. Dr.Awab is highly respected and known for his constant activism. On behalf of the Pakistani Blogosphere I would request everyone to donate generously. I am sure Dr.Awab will keep us updated during and after his visit. This is one opportunity we have to make a difference in swat.

UN estimates there are 980,000 people being displaced out of NWFP - there is tremendous suffering and a severe lack of funds and Volunteers.

Facebook Event - Collection / Donation appeal for IDP’s in SWAT
I plan to lead a team to the affected areas hopefully to depart from Karachi on the 18th of May 2009 to take the collected donation items personally into the region of Mardan and physically distribute the items only to the needy and suffering.

We are interested in anything that you can contribute. We are hoping to pre-pack the collected items into small handy packages so as to distribute items to each individual person. The small packages will help us avoid hoarders who made even the 2005 Earthquake a business.

Please Please do not donate old/expired stuff. Make sure edible items are hygienic and properly packed.

• Most Important things Pedestal Fans, Tents, Mattress.
• Utensils: Jerri cans (large plastic cans that hold 20 liters of water or other liquids), Crockery, Buckets
• Toiletries: Tissues, Soaps, Dettol (antibacterial cleaners), Towels
• Food: Rice [3 kg pack], Wheat [3kg pack], Sugar [1 kg pack], Tea [1 box each], Variety of Daals [1 kg each], Milk [in tetra packs or powder], Safe drinking water

Medicines:

1. Most important thing is Anti Mosquito sprays
2. Water purification tablets.
3. Life Saving drugs.
4. Vaccines for malaria, cholera, typhoid, influenza.
5. Pain killers including strong ones like morphine derivatives, tremadol, pethadine, kinz .
6. Antibiotics e.g. tetnus, amoxil, gentamycin.
7. IV cannulas
8. IV Drip sets
9. IV drips: normal saline, ringerlactate
10. Local anesthetics (injections)
11. Cotton bandages, cotton.
12. Surgical instruments: e.g needle holders, forceps, tweezers.
13. Suturing materials, Skin staples.

Just think about it that if you live in tent then which kind of things you need there so buy it and donate it.

*Weeee* We have another blogger on board. A Blog Post By Kashif Aziz Of Chowrangi.
Swat Crisis: Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Pakistan Need Our Help

As military operation continues in Swat, Dir, Buner and adjacent locations, the residents of these areas are migrating to safer regions like Mardan, Charsadda and Peshawar.

With an expected 500,000 1.3 million people to be displaced from their places of residence, Swat Crisis is termed as largest humanitarian and displacement crisis in recent times. Whether we support the military operation or not, these Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) need our help.

This is an appeal to all individuals, organizations, charities and NGOs in general and nationals of Pakistan in particular, whether resident or expat, to come forward and help by extending financial, technical and moral support to hundreds of thousands, feared to be displaced in Swat Crisis. If nothing else, please spread the word.

On this page, a list of charity organizations is assembled, both in Pakistan and abroad, where you can donate your contributions. If you know of an organization that is not listed here, please email us at info[at]chowrangi.com
How you can help:

Besides sending cash through below mentioned charity organizations, you can support by providing following commodities. Please do not donate old/expired stuff. Make sure edible items are hygienic and properly packed.

* Clothing: Clothes of various sizes, Beddings, Shoes
* Utensils: Jerricans (large plastic cans that hold 20 liters of water or other liquids), Crockery, Buckets
* Toiletries: Tissues, Soaps, Dettol (antibacterial cleaners), Towels
* Food: Rice, Sugar, Flour (Atta), Onions, Potatoes, Cooking oil, Tea, Milk (tetra packs or powder), Safe drinking water, Cooked Food

Medicines:

1. Water purification tablets.
2. Life saving drugs.
3. Vaccines for malaria, cholera, typhoid, influenza.
4. Pain killers including strong ones like morphine derivatives, tremadol, pethadine, kinz .
5. Antibiotics e.g. tetnus, amoxil, gentamycin.
6. IV cannulas
7. IV Drip sets
8. IV drips: normal saline, ringerlactate
9. Local anesthetics (injections)
10. Cotton bandages, cotton.
11. Surgical instruments: e.g needle holders, forceps, tweezers.
12. Suturing materials, Skin staples.

Charity Organizations in Pakistan:

* Al-Khidmat Foundation: Donate here.
* Edhi Foundation: Donate here.
* SUNGI: Who to contact [link], where to donate [link].

International Charity Organizations:

* Islamic Relief USA: Donate here.
* UNHCR: Donate here.
* Oxfam - GB
* Plan International
* International Medical Corps
* The International Rescue Committee (IRC)
* Church World Service

More Resources:

FaceBook: IDPs from NWFP need us

Following is the list of NGO’s working for relief alongside their contact details. Please drop in comments and update us with more names and contacts.

An IDBP known as Sungi is working for relief efforts in that region.For further details, please see their website here: http://sungi.org/contactpersons.asp

Moreover, UNHCR is an internally trusted organisation which is actively collecting funds for the crisis as well: Please see: UNHCR contact

Then there is the ever ready Edhi foundation. Please see: Edhi Foundation

The Al Khidmat Foundation is also actively working on the same crisis: Contact

Take a look at The Citizens Trust as well: Citizen Trust

Furthermore, here is a list of items that people may want to send to the displaced people as well:

* Clothing: Clothes of various sizes, Beddings, Shoes
* Utensils: Jerricans (large plastic cans that hold 20 liters of water or other liquids), Crockery, Buckets
* Toiletries: Tissues, Soaps, Dettol (antibacterial cleaners), Towels
* Food: Rice, Sugar, Flour (Atta), Onions, Potatoes, Cooking oil, Tea, Milk (tetra packs or powder), Safe drinking water, Cooked Food

Medicines:

1. Water purification tablets.
2. Life saving drugs.
3. Vaccines for malaria, cholera, typhoid, influenza.
4. Pain killers including strong ones like morphine derivatives, tremadol, pethadine, kinz .
5. Antibiotics e.g. tetnus, amoxil, gentamycin.
6. IV cannulas
7. IV Drip sets
8. IV drips: normal saline, ringerlactate
9. Local anesthetics (injections)
10. Cotton bandages, cotton.
11. Surgical instruments: e.g needle holders, forceps, tweezers.
12. Suturing materials, Skin staples.

Will be updating the list as I get my hands on more information. For now lets get to work!

REMINDER: If you are an individual or an organization feel free to drop us a comment we will spread your word across.