COPAA Launches Emergency Appeal
It is a time of crisis for the people of the NWFP. Their lives have been disrupted by weeks of fighting and before they can go back home to a Taliban-free homeland, they need food, shelter, and medicine to make it through, says a COPAA press release. It adds:
Fighting hasn't ebbed in weeks and thousands more have fled the battleground. Even though assistance in the form of food, medicine, and shelter is being provided, much more needs to be done. This is the time for all Pakistani organizations to come together and help the refugees.
Therefore, at this critical hour, COPAA stands ready to offer humanitarian assistance to the thousands of people that have been displaced by the fighting in the north. COPAA offers its unequivocal support to the people of the NWFP and thus leads efforts to send financial aid and donations to the displaced population of NWFP.
The Consul General of Pakistan informed the Pakistani American community of the dire situation and that the Government of Pakistan has established a special fund "Prime Minister's Special Fund for Victims of Terrorism" in an effort to collect funds for relief assistance to displaced people of Dir, Swat, Bajaur, Waziristan Agency and other Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), of Pakistan.
COPAA urges all Pakistani-Americans to come forward and donate generously.
In order to collect donations the Consulate General of Pakistan, Los Angeles has opened the following Universal account with the Bank of America (BoA), which can be operated from any BoA branch:
Name of Account: Consulate General of Pakistan, Los Angeles
Bank: Bank of America, N.A., PO Box 27025, Richmond, VA 23261-7025
Account #: 2260 0025 1361
For wire transfers: Routing No. 026-009593
Donors looking for tax exemptions for their donations could forward their contributions to the Council of Pakistan American Affairs (COPAA) for tax exemption, with the Tax ID number: 95-4575200. For sending donations through COPAA, checks may please be clearly marked as COPAA/Prime Minister's Special Fund.
COPAA appeals to all Pakistani Americans to donate generously.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------