about a month ago after hearing of PIA's charitable
offer of aid relief transportation my husband and I
started collecting supplies within two weeks we
realised that NYC alone housed 100's of boxes hoping
to be shipped out. we were very frankly informed that
PIA was inundated and unable to cope with the amount
of goods, the relief efforts within Karachi ports were
backed up and delayed. our donations would take the
whole of winter to arrive and be distributed. with
this knowledge we decided to take advantage of family
and friends and it is through them and the grace of
God that we have arranged things so far.

By the end of this month Inshallah a 40cft container
will be filled up and depart from NJ ports. the
gentleman assures me it takes 21 days but I suspect 4
to 5 weeks before it will be received by my brother in
law: Nadir Shah who has arranged courtesy of AIR BLUE
a domestic airline to ship the container to Islamabad
free of charge. we expect little trouble from the port
as our consignment is personal and not through the
presidential fund which is doing excellent work but
again caught up in delays and red tape. From Islamabad
it will be delivered through my husband's cousin Nuria
Rafique to a village set in the foothills of the
mountains now reduced to a population of 4,000. Nuria
is working closely with CARE. CARE I believe is
delivering a school and medical structure as well as
some housing at the end of this month. it is our
ambition to aid this village in particular and others
to surviving through winter and rebuild their lives.

we can send 700 boxes and I feel confident we can
achieve this however what i would like to do is
full-fill the villages wish list and I request your
help in doing so.
if you can aid us in any way please get in touch with
me; SORAYAA SULTAN MEER , email; [email protected]
or telephone 718 623 0342 and cell 917 478 8607

we have the next two weeks to really organise and
arrange everything for those that wish to aid in
supplies and would like to purchase some donations can
be made out to MASJID HAMZA and claimed as a tax
deduction for the SAearthquake relief.

the things we urgently require are as follows;
MEDICAL SUPPLIES; Imodium, antiseptic cream, pain
relievers, gauze, electrolytes etc..
SCHOOL SUPPLIES; note books, pens and pencils, CHALK
and chalkboards, mats to sit upon.
BUILDING SUPPLIES; hammers 2kg and 6kg, spare hammer
handles, shovels and spades, pickaxes, nails and
screws, screwdrivers, saws, chisels, 4 wheelbarrows,
we have sourced the ones used in Turkey said to be the
best and coming in at around $300 each. they last
forever almost and are non corrosive and more elevated
than the regular ones. they have asked for 4 obviously
the more we can send the better. we are negotiating
with the company now. they have also asked for a
rubble breaking machine ???
TOILETRIES; soap, shampoo, toothpaste, antibacterial
wipes, sanitary towels, brushes etc..
SLEEPING BAGS AND BLANKETS.
the list is by no means exclusive

To date Merrill Lynch have been outstanding working
closely with me as well as my local community and two
local schools. we can make a difference and Inshallah
we will. when I began collecting the official death
toll was at 52,000 today it stands closer to 100,000
dead and over 3 million homeless. please if you can
help in any way let us know . Just by passing this on
brings awareness and through awareness help.

thank you
soraya

Soraya Sultan - Meer