Worthy local effort to aid Pakistan (Aug. 30)
By Chuck Doud
The Madera Tribune
The efforts by local doctors who are from Pakistan to raise money for flood relief in that unfortunate country is well worth supporting.
These folks could quietly have given on their own, and let it go at that, but they are aware of the vast extent of the disaster.
Imagine — 1,600 people dead and 875,000 homes lost. On top of that, crops have been washed away, infrastructure has been destroyed, and the flooding has created a rich breeding ground for all kinds of disease.
Right now, news outlets are talking about the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. That catastrophic storm killed 1,836, and destroyed some 276,000 homes in New Orleans and along the coasts of Alabama.
The flooding has affected a fifth of the land area of Pakistan. Homes and businesses are still being destroyed in some areas as rains continue, and many more people will die due to disease and injuries.
About $1 billion in aid has been pledged by other countries to help Pakistan, but think of this: Almost $200 billion has been spent over the past five years repairing the damage from Katrina, and the spending hasn’t stopped. Where will Pakistan get $200 billion to repair what is now far more damage than Katrina caused?
Some donors are waiting to give until they can be assured that the Pakistani government will use the money wisely, or that the Taliban won’t confiscate it.
However, the money being collected here won’t be going to the government, and certainly not to the Taliban, but rather to trusted organizations known to the local doctors.
If you want to know how to donate, call Dr. Mohammad Ashraf, 673-2259. They have formed a 501(c) 3 corporation to administer the money, and to make it completely tax deductible for any donor.
