Press Releases

Candle Lighting Worldwide Unites Afghan Earthquake Victims and Supporters

April 15, 2002

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT
Voice: 626-676-7884
E-mail: info_at_afghanwomensmission.org

LA-based Afghan Women’s Mission and the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan begin a campaign for worldwide candlelight vigils to raise money for humanitarian aid relief for victims of Afghanistan’s recent devastating earthquakes.

At 7:26 pm local time (9:26 am Eastern time) on March 25, 2002, a 6.2 magnitude earthquake devastated the Baghlan province in northern Afghanistan in the Hindu Kush mountains, injuring an estimated 4,000 people, destroying some 1,500 homes and rendering 20,000 people homeless. In response, the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, Afghanistan’s oldest women’s organization began preparing to provide medical, food and shelter aid for the victims.

“As soon as we heard about the horrible earthquake, we got news from inside [Afghanistan],” said a RAWA member named Mehmooda. “The biggest problem for relief works is the road to the devastated villages, which have been almost completely blocked due to the damage caused by the earthquake.”

The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan will provide emergency relief aid in the form of supplying earthquake-stricken Afghans with flour and cooking oil; blankets and quilts; medicines and physical aid. RAWA members personally distribute all emergency aid to ensure that it reaches those who need it the most.

To nurture an earthquake victim for 30 days costs RAWA just $30. Donors can also support an earthquake-affected Afghan for a month: food is $8, clothing $4, and shelter is just $13.

“As Afghans themselves, RAWA’s humanitarian work reaches the Afghan people that other mainstream aid agencies cannot get access to,” said Neesha Mirchandani, vice president, Afghan Women’s mission, a US-based organization working in collaboration with RAWA. “That is why we are opening a campaign of vigils worldwide to support RAWA’s emergency relief activities.”

The vigil begins on April 20, when the Afghan Women’s Mission’s website will light a virtual candle of hope, which users can download and post to their own websites to show support and link back to the Afghan Women’s Mission web site. The website will also host a special vigil community discussion group to unite vigil participants across the world. The website’s calendar lists vigils worldwide. A vigil participation kit is available via email with poetry readings, fact sheets, and fundraising information related to the worldwide vigil. Send an email to info@afghanwomensmission.org

On Mar.12, 2002 RAWA distributed food among earthquake victims in Khuram and Sarbagh villages of Samangan province in Northern Afghanistan. They plan to undertake a similar program for victims of the recent earthquake. Photos of RAWA’s aid efforts are available at http://rawasongs.fancymarketing.net/samangan.htm .

The Afghan Women’s Mission aims to empower Afghan women by improving the education and health facilities of Afghan refugees, many of whom are women and children.

More information about RAWA’s humanitarian work is available on their website, http://www.rawa.org.