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Earthquake 2005 aid flows continue: Young Karachi sets up Eid donation camp

By Urooj Zia

KARACHI: Some of the young people of the city have once again rallied to the cause of humanity and have come forward with plans to help the people who survived the earthquake a year ago.

A donation camp was set up at the PAF Museum Sunday and will operate from 10:00 a.m. onwards. Aid gathered will be meant mostly for the children of the quake-affected areas. The camp organisers asked for people to send in books, notebooks, colouring books, colour pencils, pens, toys, biscuits, candy, packaged food-anything suitable for a child. All donations will be transported to the quake-affected areas in time for Eid-ul-Fitr.

The project was initiated by a group of professionals in Karachi, and is led by 26-year-old Unaiza Nasim. Within a span of three to four days, the group has managed to book the PAF Museum, print banners, and as of October 15, have set up camp at the museum in order to accept donations.

According to Nasim, the campaign for children was the brainchild of Naila Jafferey, an artist, and has been put together with help from a local TV station and the a club.

Another campaign that the group is heading is to provide shelter by building houses out of tin sheets. “A tin sheet costs around Rs 600-700, and nine sheets are required for a house,” Nasim said. The group has to date collected Rs 150,000 for the purpose. However, this is not enough. “A truck full of sheets will cost Rs 500,000, while labour and transport come to Rs 50,000,” Nasim explained.

An estimated 1,800,000 people were rendered homeless by the earthquake. The group is also collecting blankets, bedding, warm covering-but no clothes. Volunteers are required to help pack the material. “If nothing else, please at least spread the word,” said Nasim.

For details Nasim can be contacted at unaiza.nasim@gmail.com or 0300-828-5956.

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