By Matt Thacker
By Matt Thacker
News Editor
news@louisvillecardinal.com
Dr. Sohail Ikram visited his family in Pakistan in late September. Two weeks later on Oct. 8, he heard about the devastating earthquake that hit his home country and left tens of thousands dead.
In the days after the earthquake, he learned that only four of the 17 people staying in his family’s multiunit house survived. His sister and her husband were two of the survivors, but they lost all three of their children. Doctors believe Ikram’s sister will need to have one of her arms amputated.
Now Drs. Khurram Nazeer and Ikram, professors of medicine at the University of Louisville’s Health Sciences Center, are trying to help in the global relief effort to aid victims of the earthquake.
“People don’t realize that this is one of the biggest disasters in the last 20 years,” Nazeer said. “More people are dying because of the rough terrain in that area. The temperatures are already getting to subzero, and there are people without homes.”
More than 80,000 people in Pakistan and India have been reported dead, while close to three million are estimated to be homeless.
Reuters reported on Nov. 9 that while Americans donated close to $1.5 billion to the tsunami relief effort in Southeast Asia, they have donated just $43 million to support earthquake relief.
Nazeer believes that the reason Americans have given less is the timing of the event which came shortly after the tsunami and the hurricanes in the Gulf Coast.
But Nazeer said that the earthquake will require even more assistance due to the amount of people left homeless.
With a harsh winter approaching and reports of spreading disease, Ikram said the death toll continues to rise by the thousands each week.
“We’re losing the battle,” he said.
Nazeer and Ikram are part of the Association of Pakistani Physicians of Kentucky and Indiana, a group which they estimate has collected about $60,000 so far. Most of the money, however, has come from within the Pakistani community.
The association has sent three doctors to volunteer care for the sick in Pakistan. They’ve also sent truckloads of supplies. Now, they’re hoping to increase their efforts by reaching out to everyone in Louisville for help.
“Anything will help,” Nazeer said. “Even just a dollar or two will help in the effort.”
Nazeer said the biggest need now is for tents, warm clothes, especially new socks and children’s clothing, sleeping bags, blankets and flashlights. He said they will most likely make their last shipment next week because after that, the supplies will get there too late.
They will still accept cash donations after this week. The donations are tax deductible, and 100 percent of the profits will go directly to help the victims.
Packaged items can be taken to the Kidney Disease Program at 615 South Preston St. For more information, contact Nazeer at (502) 797-4161.
By Matt Thacker
