Dear Ahlebaiti Muslims, Salaam alaikum.

This email is a continuation of my update from March 2006 regarding the situation in Uri, Indian Kashmir. For those that are unaware, the broad based earthquake devastation in Kashmir was massive and colossal. Although most of the attention and aid was directed (rightly so) towards Pakistan side, our Momeneen on the Indian side have been hard hit as well, especially the village of Uri, just across the border from Pakistan.

Uri has a Shia population of 1,100 families and homes. After the earthquake, 640 of them perished and not a single house remained standing, prompting a humanitarian disaster. With your help and funds collected from within India, CAI and Al Imaan Foundation were able to build over 400 houses, providing life support against the snow, ice and winds of winter. Even so, we lost several children and elderly due to pneumonia. As is Allah's (SWT) will, I suppose.

Now, we begin the hard part of our continuing support - rehabilitation. As has been CAI's motive and mission from the start, our focus will be towards children and their welfare. To this end, CAI, with your generous support, has already established 2 orphanages. This appeal is for one more in Uri. We had an elementary school adjoining an orphanage in Uri which is now gone.

The Indian government is dilly dallying about its reconstruction, saying they do not have the funds until maybe 2009. This, to us, is unacceptable for obvious reasons. We have these 100 or so boys that have been orphaned and some more during the earthquake. Now, they cannot have an education as well. I am confident that you will agree we need to get these children back to school and is the reason for my request for funds.

The most basic of a school structure and orphanage cost is around US $77,000, out of which $20,000 have already been pledged and or collected. I am left with a deficit of $57,000. We have the infrastructure intact; i.e. principal, teachers, syllabus, necessary licensing and government approvals, etc. We need a structure and we need it now. As with anything in Kashmir, our window of opportunity is small. We need to begin now that the snow is melting and at least have something by October before the snow starts again. We will begin small and then add on as funds are made available. I am headed to both Kargil and Uri mid May, insha'Allah to get the ball rolling. And I have also made a commitment to be in India for 3 months beginning just before Ramadhan to ensure that both the Kargil and Uri projects are overseen and compliant to the exacting and uncompromising terms and conditions of CAI.

I therefore beseech you for help. I usually do not use such demeaning words but I am desperate in this instance due to the wretched situation in Uri. These children (and parents) have been traumatized by the earthquake and the prospect of no school second year in a row will be hard to take. Will you please help? You know the importance and value of education in a child’s life; this is the lifeline to their future earning potential. We save one child and we have probably saved a progeny. I would rather come to you for this child’s education then ask for food for his/her family in the future.

For those of you contributing from Canada, we have made arrangements to have tax deductible receipts issued out of Canada from IHS. Please forward your contributions to:

Islamic Humanitarian Service
81 Hollinger Crescent
Kitchener, ON N2K 2Y8

Please mention URI SCHOOL / ORPHANAGE PROJECT in your contributions and please email me the amount sent / pledged.

Please help and pledge urgently so that I have an idea what ballpark amount I am working with before I leave on May 7.

To the many donors who have asked me how you can help (apart from monetary contributions), you can:
1. Pray that this project is a rounding success.
2. Pray for the children we are trying to help and
3. Propagate this appeal to all that you know; it is only through vast networking and joining of hands that will ensure continuing success.

As usual, all my projects are open and transparent to all. I welcome each of you to please come and visit these with me. You may become depressed for a short period of time, but your perception of poverty and helplessness will change. And I promise you will be a better individual, insha'Allah.

Jazaak'Allah.