|
|
|
Economics Professor Tahir Andrabi Involved in
International Relief Efforts for Pakistan Following
Devastating Earthquake
|
 |
Professor Tahir Andrabi’s family has lived in Muzaffarad,
Pakistan for four generations. He spent many holidays there,
swimming in the Jhelum, climbing the formidable mountain Pir
Chinassi and roaming around in Jalalabad gardens.
 On Saturday, October 8, a 7.6-magnitude earthquake
devastated communities throughout northern Pakistan and
India, including Muzaffarabad. Since then, Andrabi has been
working intensely on both local and international relief
efforts.
“I hate to call Pakistan because every phone call results in
the news of a loss of another person,” says Andrabi. “With
the death toll crossing the 30,000 mark, and with over
50,000 people left injured, hungry and homeless, we need all
the help we
can get.”
Because of his connections to the World Bank and with
Pakistan government officials, developed through years of
research and work to improve Pakistani education, Andrabi
has been appointed to the World Bank/Government of Pakistan
coordinating team for relief work and needs assessment for the damage. The
group includes representatives from the United Nations and
other disaster experts who are developing a GIS mapping tool
to allow them to assess the damage in far-flung villages.
Landslides have blocked access to many of the Himalayan
towns and villages.
On a community level, Andrabi and his wife, Shaila Andrabi,
are working on a fundraising program to support the
Children's Unit of the Pakistan Institute of Medical
Services (PIMS), the main hospital in Islamabad for medicine
and care for children that are coming from the earthquake areas for treatment.
According to Dr. Tabish Hazir, the Andrabi’s pediatrician
during their sabbatical in Islamabad in 2000, the first
group of 200 children from the affected areas have already
arrived. “Most of the injuries are broken bones,” says
Andrabi. “Dr. Tabish is really worried that while the roads
opening up is good news, his unit is going to be swamped
with casualties coming from the quake stricken areas so we
need to move fast.”
Knowing donors’ concerns that their contributions find their
the way to the people who need it most, the Andrabis are
working with the NGO Children Resource International, run by
Shaila Andrabi’s sister Mehnaz Aziz. “Mehnaz has set up a
database with
all their names, father's name and district of residence so
we can accurately track who is getting what,” reports Shaila
Andrabi. “We are estimating (the need for) roughly $100 for
each of these kids to arrange for stay and upkeep of family
members. We hope to be able to track these children over
time as well." The Andrabis hope to involve local schools in
Claremont and elsewhere by putting them in direct contact
with children in Pakistan who are in dire need of help.
-- Cynthia Peters
Related story:
New Tool For Relief Operations in Pakistan Will Increase
Effectiveness & Reach of Assistance
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Quick Links |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Explore Pomona's Web |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Find It |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Search |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
