An
Update from the Quake Site
Tents Are Badly Needed
By Saghir Aslam
Pakistan
You have heard on TV and read
in newspapers about the acute shortage of tents.
Matter of fact ,I have written to you about the
shortage. I want to thank Br Faruk Zia for sending
me the source for tents and the price list from
the USA plus the freight charges. The proposition
was not practical.
And so we decided to make our own tents using
patio cover sheets on the top. We used metal rods
to hold the sheets; on the sides we used canvas,
it takes time to put them together and they are
costly. We bought enough sheets to have 50 tents
for the remote villages, a few for each village.
Local people helped us in putting up the tents.
Thanks to the Almighty God our brothers and sisters
have some shelter now.
Junid, one of the locals whom we are working with,
took another truckload of blankets, razai and
food.
Yesterday, I decided to go to the city one more
time to explore some easier and less expensive
way of building our tent city. We went from one
shop to another but with no luck. We then decided
to look for the source (manufacturer) of tents.
It was getting dark and we were going from door
to door. As the Isha Azan started I knew it was
getting late but I did not give up. I was determined
to continue the search, and so we did. Thanks
to God Almighty, our long, long hard day’s
work paid off and one of the manufacturers after
listening to our sad story said we could have
the tents in two days time. It was the best news
I have, had heard for a long time. We paid him
the deposit and returned to the head office in
a buoyant mood.
Dear brothers and sisters, this was one good news.
Now let me give you the second good news: One
of our generous brothers - I can’t write
his name until I have his permission - called
me up a couple of days ago and said that he would
pay for all the tents in the tent city. I was
thrilled. Let me mention here that we still need
money for 50 tents that we have set up in the
villages. Could one of you or couple of you help
with that and earn 70 times the reward?
My brothers and sisters, we need blankets, razais,
pillows, sheets, towels and all other necessities
for our tent city. We are comparing the cost for
these and we will let you know.
We are approaching the end of the holy month of
Ramadan during which we get 70 times the reward
– and soon this month will be history. The
earthquake victims really need your help. My request
to each and everyone of you is:
1. Donate whatever you can, but please do donate
before it’s too late for some of them.
2. Forward this email to your:
a. Friends
b. Relatives
c. Business associates
3. Discuss this in your Masajid
4. Make this part of the discussion at iftari
parties.
5. Think of the unfortunate earthquake victims
especially on the occasion of Eid when normally
we have festive celebrations.
6. Below you will find an email from Dr. Jackson
who spent two days with me. How Saba Trust works
7. Dear brothers and sisters, let me share with
you the efficiency of getting the job done and
getting help quickly to the most needy.
a. We are established for years not just in Pakistan
but practically on site in Rawalpindi.
b. We are working with several other organizations
to get the best results.
c. Because of our extremely low overheads you
get the best for your buck.
d. We pay no rent for the office; rather we receive
rent.
e. We do not have expensive automobile expenses.
f. Please consider all above. The holy month of
Ramadan and the dire need for these people. They
are going to need help for months to come.
Make out the checks to:
International Education and Welfare Society (IEWS)
Tax ID No.33-0716944. Registered in USA 1997
Mail to: 10351 Parkview Ave, Westminster California
92683
Please mark your calendar Jan 29th for the long-term
care (rebuilding of their lives) fundraiser. Details
will follow later.
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