Humanity First USA Director Returns from Pakistan After Building Long-Term Housing Shelters for Earthquake Victims
Houston, TX (PRWEB) January 8, 2006
Executive Director of Humanity First USA, Munum Naeem, returned today after helping with earthquake relief in Pakistan and witnessing first-hand the destruction and suffering. Humanity First has been providing winterized shelters to earthquake victims, and is appealing to people all across the nation to help raise an additional $ 100,000 to continue its shelter initiatives in Pakistan.
Humanity First is pursuing shelters that are manufactured locally within Pakistan and cost $ 600 USD each. “There is a dire need to build as many shelters in the shortest time possible if we’re going to save lives,” says Mr. Naeem. Not only are the structures waterproof and weather-resistant, but they will each provide a home for a family of 8 for years to come. Most importantly, they can be produced at the rate of 20-40 shelters per day, greatly increasing the likelihood of saving more lives. Humanity First urgently needs funds to keep its shelter operations afloat in order to save the lives of hundreds of more families still awaiting protection from the cold.
It has been 3 months since the 7.6 magnitude earthquake claimed the lives of over 73,000 people and left an estimated 3.5 million people homeless. Children are increasingly being diagnosed with respiratory diseases and the first round of deaths from the winter weather have already occurred. Moreover, the weather conditions have already begun to hamper aid transportation to relief camps in Pakistan. The UN’s Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan, Jan Vandemoortele, noted in a press release dated December 20 2005: “Media attention is essential to ensure that the earthquake does not become a forgotten tragedy at a time when the affected people face a difficult winter.” A narrow window of opportunity remains to save lives by providing shelters and other essential items such as blankets and heaters.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
To arrange interviews with Mr. Naeem or receive photos, please contact Mateen Khan at 408-802-4580.
ABOUT HUMANITY FIRST USA:
Humanity First, USA (http://www.humanityfirst.org), a 501(c)3-registered charity, is the U.S. chapter of Humanity First International (http://www.humanityfirst.org.uk), which was set up in the early 1990’s to serve disaster-struck and socially-disadvantaged individuals and families in the poorer communities in the world. It provided humanitarian relief to the victims of the Asian Tsunami and Hurricane Katrina. Its relief efforts in northern Pakistan and Kashmir in the aftermath of the earthquake have helped feed, clothe, and house nearly 25,000 survivors.
The board of directors, management team, and project staff running the day-to-day operations of Humanity First are all unpaid volunteers. All personal expenses are met by the volunteers to maximize the use of funds raised and donated for those in need.
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