Quake appealraises £30,000 (From Penarth Times)

Quake appealraises £30,000

THE PENARTH GP leading relief efforts to aid victims of the earthquake in his native Pakistan said he is "truly touched" by the generosity of the response by Penarth people to his appeal.

Dr Nawab Khan, a GP at Stanwell Road surgery who comes from the city of Islamabad, is a trustee of an aid organisation heavily involved in the immediate response to the earthquake which has killed over 50,000 people and left some three million homeless.

Dr Khan said: "We have had a staggering response to the appeal. More than 30,000 has now been donated to allow us to help victims.

"I wish to say a big thank-you to the many people from Penarth who have contributed.

"One elderly woman gave us half her pension saying that the victims needed it more than she did.

"Pupils at Stanwell School raised money for us through a cake stand. We also had a fantastic response from all the churches in Penarth.

"The army in Pakistan has now taken control of all the country's tent manufacturing and are ensuring that victims are supplied with tents," explained Dr Khan.

"This means that we have been concentrating on the supply of food rations on the ground and medicines.

"Money has been used to pay for orthopaedic materials and anti-viral tetanus jabs.

"We have also set up field clinics, some of which have now been handed over to non-governmental aid organisations.

"As the international aid agencies move in to take over the immediate response we will move our aid towards more long-term strategies.

"So many young children in Pakistan have been traumatised by this disaster - having been left without families and homes.

"In the long-term we hope to develop rehabilitation programmes to help them come to terms with their loss and to support the rebuilding of communities by funding individual projects."

To support Dr Khan's work make a cheque payable to RMC Alumnae UK, and send it to Dr Tahir, 34 Celyn Avenue, Cyncoed, Cardiff CF23 6EP.