As rescue workers continue to search through the rubble for survivors of a Jan. 25 earthquake in India, a group of University students will be raising money to help the recovery and rebuilding effort.
The Students of Indian Subcontinent are working with the International Student Association today to raise money for earthquake relief in India. SIS will be using the weekly international coffee hour from 4 to 6 p.m. to raise funds and awareness.
The coffee hour will be in the International Lounge above the post office in the EMU.
A week ago, a quake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale hit Bhuj, India. The Associated Press said Thursday that the death toll has reached 14,241 and is expected to reach 35,000.
Haseena Vaswani, SIS treasurer, said the city of Gujarat, one of India’s major metropolitan centers, needs to be almost completely rebuilt. Damage estimates have already passed the $1 billion mark.
“Obviously, this is a major thing that happened, and we have to try and help,” Vaswani said.
All the money raised will be given to either the American Red Cross, which is helping with relief efforts, or directly to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund. Vaswani stressed that any amount will help, and she hopes to raise a few hundred dollars.
The U.S. Agency for International Development has pledged $9 million to help the recovery process in India. Other countries, including Pakistan, Japan, Spain, England and Russia, have already sent relief crews to help with recovering and caring for victims.
Vaswani has been checking with all her friends who have family in India to see if there have been any losses. Luckily, she has not heard of any yet, but communications with India have been difficult since the quake, and many people at the University have not been able to get through.
Students to raise relief funds for quake-shocked India
Daily Emerald
February 1, 2001
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