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| May 29, 2006 | Monday | Jumadi-ul-Awwal 1, 1427 |
Hockey players raise Rs3bn for quake survivors
ISLAMABAD, May 28: Two renowned hockey players have embarked on a mission to get first-hand information about the miseries of the quake-affected people in the NWFP and Azad Kashmir and mobilize funds for their rehabilitation.
They have already raiseed Rs3 billion for the affected people. Giving details about their campaign at a press conference at the Pakistan Red Crescent Society (PRCS) Headquarters, Sohail Abbas, who plays for Hockey Club Rotterdam these days, and Dutch International star Geert Jan Derikx said they would stay for a week in tents in quake-hit areas of Azad Kashmir and the NWFP along with other members of the team, including journalists from the Netherlands.
Sohail Abbas said the aim of the visit was to get first hand information about the losses caused by the earthquake and inform the Dutch public about the progress on humanitarian assistance in the areas.
Sohail Abbas was the initiator of a benefit match organised for earthquake victims at Rotterdam. Dutch International star Geert Jan Derikx participated in the match representing the Netherlands.
The event was covered by the Dutch national television live and the match was broadcast to Pakistan, India and other parts of the world. Dutch Crown Prince Willem Alexander was the surprise guest at the match.
A successful fundraising campaign launched in the Netherlands has helped raise an incredible amount equivalent to over Rs3 billion.
Sohail Abbas said a coalition of eight major NGOs joined hands together in the fund-raising campaign. He said the hefty amount would be utilised for reconstruction and rehabilitation projects in the quake-hit areas of Pakistan through Dutch Red Cross and other Netherlands-based organisations.
He said it would be ensured that the money was properly utilised by maintaining high standards of transparency. Asked if he has any further plans to raise funds for the quake affected people, he said at present he did not have a concrete idea in his mind, but would be ready to do what he could for his country.
Speaking on the occasion, Geert Jan Derikx said he was pleased to be part of an initiative taken for the cause of humanity. He said the people of the Netherlands generously donated funds to help the people hit by the massive earthquake.
He said it took some two months to collect the amount of 41.5 million euros and hoped that more amount would continue to pour in.
Mr Derikx said the purpose of visiting the affected areas was to see the humanitarian work being carried out by NGOs. He said once they go back, they would let the people of the Netherlands know about the needs of quake survivors.
He said the Pakistan Red Crescent Society was doing excellent work with the help of its movement partners and hoped it would continue to play its role to mitigate the sufferings of humanity.
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