Berkeley Parents Network: Where to donate for Afghanistan

Berkeley Parents Network

Where to donate for Afghanistan

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Charity, Donations & Recycling > Where to donate for Afghanistan

October 2001

I just read in the paper that 5 million (!) people may starve to death this winter. What can we do to help? Does anyone feel that any of these aids organizations are making a difference? I'd gladly send a check if I knew where to send it to.-- Roxane

Oxfam (originated in UK; branches in U.S. and elsewhere) is a well-respected organization, very experienced in getting material aid to people in need. I believe they have a program serving the Afghani refugee camps. (I know they have a website; think it's www.oxfam.org.) There's also Doctor Without Borders--www.doctorswithoutborders.org--who do excellent medical work for refugees and other victims of war. The American Friends Service Committee, the Quakers' social justice branch, www.afsc.org, are investigating setting up a program. They are also fine people who know their business: getting aid to people without incurring high administrative overhead. Lastly, check out the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, who've been around since 1977 trying to keep feminism alive in their country, god help them: www.rawa.org. I've e-mailed the Chronicle several times asking that they publish the addresses of organizations doing relief work with Afghani refugees (since they regularly print such information for 9/11 relief). Perhaps if others also made the same suggestion, the Chron would actually do so. Melanie

Many relief agencies have activities for Afghan Refugees. Catholic Relief Services (http://www.catholicrelief.org/ ) has a big program. They have very low administrative overhead. CARE (www.care.org) also is serving in this area. A lot of organizations are not willing to be in Afghanistan, but CARE is. Doctors without Borders http://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/) is providing medical care there.

Dashka The Afghan Coalition of Fremont along with the Afghan Women International Organization and the Committee of American Friends are accepting donations on behalf of the Afghan refugees in Afghanistan. They are collecting blankets to send to the refugee camps around the borders of Afghanistan. You can drop off blankets or money November 10th and 11th (Saturday and Sunday) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Centerville Junior High, 37720 Fremont Blvd., Fremont, CA. You can also donate to the Afghan Widow's Project, Bank of America: acc't # 17272-04856, which supports Afghan widows and their children. Checks can also be mailed to: Afghan Widows Project PO Box 637 Fremont, CA 94537-0637 For more information, you can call the Afghan Coalition at 510/574-2182. These are all wonderful grassroots groups -- no overhead, no fancy appeals, just volunteers who are working to stave off disaster in Afghanistan and the surrounding countries in whatever way they can. If you have any other questions about these groups, you're welcome to e-mail me.

last week people posted information on how to help Afghanistan, and wishes that the Chron would post some info. Here is what I saw posted in the Chron maybe that same day: RAWA, Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan, created in 1997, recently-created web site: www.rawa.org Acting in Solidrity with Afghan People ( a group working with RAWA to reopen their hospital in Quetta, Pakistan): www.asap-net.org Amnesty International: www.amnesty.org

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