America responds with compassion
Indianapolis Star
January 5, 2005
The American flag at my residence is flying a half-staff not because of
the death of one American leader but in memory of 140,000 fellow humans
killed in the tsunami disaster in the Indian Ocean. I thank President
George W. Bush for taking a personal interest and leading the world by
appointing two former presidents to lead the fund-raising efforts.
We have once again shown the world that we care for everyone, not just
ourselves. As the Quran puts it (94:5) "with every hardship, there is
some comfort afterwards." We believe something good will come out of this
tragedy too. The tragedy of 9/11 united all Americans to fight against
terrorism and the tragedy of the tsunami will unite all humans in service
to mankind. Loss of one is loss by all. I urge fellow physicians of our
city and state to donate generously toward disaster relief.
Dr. Shahid Athar
Indianapolis
A partial list of organizations working toward relief efforts include:
For Indian Relief Effort
Indian Muslim Relief Committee (IMRC)
Online contributions to IMRC - http://www.imrc.ws/
Tax-ID #27-0058132
Checks payable to "IMRC" can be mailed to:
IMRC 800, San Antonio Road Ste #1, Palo Alto, CA 94303
Please indicate that your contribution is for "TSUNAMI RELIEF".
Contact: (650)-856-0440; email: info@imrc.ws
Association for India's Development (AID)
Online Contributions to AID http://www.aidindia.org/
Checks payable to "AID" can be mailed to:
AID Zone 3, P.O. Box 4801, Mountain View, CA 94040-0801
Please indicate that your contribution is for the "Relief and Rehabilitation Fund".
Contact: Aniruddha Vaidya, 1-650-996-8249, 1-888-TALK-2-AID or (301) 422-4441
email: info@aidindia.org
Association of Indian Muslims of America (AIM)
Checks payable to "AIM" can be mailed to:
PO Box 10654, Silver Spring, MD 20914.
Tax ID No is 52-1416611.
Contact: http://aimamerica.org/contact.htm
For International Relief Efforts:
ICNA-Relief
166-26, 89th. Avenue
Jamaica, NY 11432, USA
Tel (718) 658-7028
Fax (718) 658-3434
Email: info@reliefonline.org
http://reliefonline.org/
ISLAMIC CIRCLE OF NORTH AMERICA (ICNA) Relief has established an Indonesia,
India & Seri Lanka Relief Fund to provide food, medicine, clothes, tents &
other urgently needed supplies.
Islamic Relief
Online Contributions to Islamic Relief - https://www.irw.org/donate/
Tax ID #: 95-4453134 1919 W Magnolia Blvd,
Burbank, CA 91506,
or Contact: P.O. Box 6098, Burbank, CA 91510
Tel: 1 (888) 479-4968; Fax: 1 (818) 238-9521; E-mail: info@irw.org
ASIA RELIEF, a Maryland based nonprofit organization, is accepting donations
of nonperishable food items, clothing and toys for victims of the tsunami
in Sri Lanka. Cash donations are also being accepted.
To contribute, drop off donations anytime at
19409 Olive Tree Way, Gaithersburg, MD, 20879.
Contact Seyed Rizwan Mowlana at 301-672-9355 for more information.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
Online Contributions to IFRC - http://www.ifrc.org/helpnow/donate/donate_response.asp
Call 1-800-435-7669.
Contributions to the International Response Fund may be sent to your
local American Red Cross chapter or to the
American Red Cross International Response Fund,
P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.
Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.
CARE Australia teams from Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India and Thailand are traveling
to affected areas to gauge the impact of the disaster. Donations can be made
through the CARE Australia website (www.careaustralia.org.au) or call 1-800-020-046.
LIFE FOR RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT is sending drinking water, food, hygiene kits,
tents and blankets.
LIFE will work on sending more emergency items in the days to come.
To make a donation, visit LIFE’s website at www.lifeusa.org
or call 1-800-827-3543
Relief Fund of Southern Thailand
c/o Masjid Al-Fatiha
210 N. Citrus Avenue, Azusa, CA 91702
Donations may be wired to the following Trust Fund Account:
Bank of Whittier (Tel: 562-945-7553)
Routing Number: 122 239 542
Account Number: 1022 512
Beneficiary: Masjid Al-Fatiha
References: Relief Fund of Southern
Reprint Requests:
Shahid Athar, MD
8424 Naab Road
Suite 2D
Indianapolis, IN 46260