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Pakistan: Letter Urging Action by The Organization of The Islamic Conference
Tue, 06/16/2009 - 01:41
June 16, 2009
Secretary General
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu
The Organization of The Islamic Conference
PO Box: 178
Jeddah-21411, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Your Excellency:
We are writing to you as a member of the Board of Directors and the President of Refugees International, a Washington-based humanitarian advocacy organization that advocates for lifesaving assistance and protection for displaced people and promotes solutions to displacement crises. We are approaching you as the Foreign Minister of a leading Islamic state to express concern about the humanitarian situation in Pakistan and to urge your government to support the Pakistani government and the United Nations in responding to this crisis.
Nearly three million people in the country have been displaced since the government began military operations against militant forces there two months ago, making this one of the largest and most rapid displacements ever according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. An assessment just completed by the International Committee of the Red Cross pointed to a desperate lack of medicines, clean water, and shelter for the internal refugees.
The United Nations has launched a consolidated appeal for $550 million to respond to this crisis, but donations and pledges to date, outside of two pledges totaling $310 million by the United States, have been lagging. There appears to be some reluctance to see this as a critical humanitarian problem, which requires a response that transcends geo-political considerations.
Our hope is that the Islamic world will show solidarity with the displaced people of Pakistan, who are suffering so much. We are appealing to you to urge your government to donate generously to allow the government of Pakistan, the various humanitarian organizations of the UN system, and the Pakistani Red Crescent Society to respond immediately to the massive needs of these vulnerable people.
A Refugees International team just returned from Pakistan, and stands ready to provide updated detailed information on the severity of the situation for displaced people.
Thank you in advance for your consideration and attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Kenneth H. Bacon
President
Her Majesty Queen Noor Al Hussein
Board Member
Secretary General
Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu
The Organization of The Islamic Conference
PO Box: 178
Jeddah-21411, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Your Excellency:
We are writing to you as a member of the Board of Directors and the President of Refugees International, a Washington-based humanitarian advocacy organization that advocates for lifesaving assistance and protection for displaced people and promotes solutions to displacement crises. We are approaching you as the Foreign Minister of a leading Islamic state to express concern about the humanitarian situation in Pakistan and to urge your government to support the Pakistani government and the United Nations in responding to this crisis.
Nearly three million people in the country have been displaced since the government began military operations against militant forces there two months ago, making this one of the largest and most rapid displacements ever according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. An assessment just completed by the International Committee of the Red Cross pointed to a desperate lack of medicines, clean water, and shelter for the internal refugees.
The United Nations has launched a consolidated appeal for $550 million to respond to this crisis, but donations and pledges to date, outside of two pledges totaling $310 million by the United States, have been lagging. There appears to be some reluctance to see this as a critical humanitarian problem, which requires a response that transcends geo-political considerations.
Our hope is that the Islamic world will show solidarity with the displaced people of Pakistan, who are suffering so much. We are appealing to you to urge your government to donate generously to allow the government of Pakistan, the various humanitarian organizations of the UN system, and the Pakistani Red Crescent Society to respond immediately to the massive needs of these vulnerable people.
A Refugees International team just returned from Pakistan, and stands ready to provide updated detailed information on the severity of the situation for displaced people.
Thank you in advance for your consideration and attention to this urgent matter.
Sincerely,
Kenneth H. Bacon
President
Her Majesty Queen Noor Al Hussein
Board Member
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Refugees International (RI) advocates for lifesaving assistance and protection for displaced people and promotes solutions to displacement crises.
We are an independent organization, and do not accept any government or UN funding.
We are an independent organization, and do not accept any government or UN funding.