The following is an urgent appeal for donations on behalf of the refugees of the Swat Valley, by Zeenat Ahmed, of the Center for Dialogue, Peace and Action (CDPA). Mrs. Ahmed is a well-known Pakistani activist whose family has been active in resisting the Taliban, and paid a heavy price for it. Her husband, Akbar Ahmed, was the Pakistani ambassador to the UK and was recently on NPR’s Talk of the Nation discussing Pakistan in detail.

THE CENTER FOR DIALOGUE, PEACE AND ACTION

May 12, 2009

Dear Friend

Caught in the cross fire between the Taliban and the Pakistani Government thousands are stranded, homeless, and without hope in Swat. Over 70% of the population is now living as refugees in the most squalid conditions outside Swat. Those left behind in Swat are the old and frail and they have no water, electricity or food rations. Their homes have been bombed and targeted and reduced to rubble.

Zeenat Ahmed and Zebu Jilani of The Center for Dialogue, Peace and Action (CDPA) are going to Pakistan of 25 May 2009 to help in Swat and in the refugee camps in Mardan, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Gujarat, and Lahore which now houses the unfortunate people of Swat. Your donation will go a long way in providing shelter, clothing and food for the refugees.

We are attaching several documents:

1. A brochure for the CDPA

2. A fundraising Card

3. Tax Exemption Letter

Your donation will be tax deductable. We are registered in Washington DC, The Congressional District Programs, and our Tax ID is: 65-0970090.

Warmest wishes,

Zeenat Ahmed

Program Manager

Center for Dialogue Peace and Action,

7216 Millwood Ct, Bethesda, MD 20817

Tel: (301) 263-1036

News links

The Swat exodus in pictures:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8038258.stm

“Everything destroyed” in Swat valley:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8044150.stm

Swat

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/akbar-ahmed/will-my-books-in-swat-sur_b_201769.html

Here are the documents referred to above for download and printing: CDPA Brochure (PDF) | fundraiser card (DOC) | tax-exempt form (PDF)

UPDATE: There are numerous other ways you can donate to help the people of Swat – Zack Ajmal has a list of organizations, as does Chapati Mystery, Chowrangi, and the Help Pakistan Now site. Please do what you can.