* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Help Mountain Forum to Support South Asia Quake Relief:

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Dear Mountain Forum members and friends,

As you may recall, on October 24th I had appealed to all of you to donate for the survivors of the devastating earthquake that shook the mountains of South Asia on October 8th, taking countless lives and leaving millions of people in despair.

I am writing today to give you an update of the donations thus far received by many of you who have generously responded to our appeal.

I am pleased to inform you that, since this appeal has been launched on Mountain Forum's discussion lists, you have generously contributed the sum of nearly US$

16,198 for the worth of almost 110 tents (about US$ 145/tent).

The donated double-ply tents, now being produced by the Kathmandu-based manufacturer, Himal Tents, are made of good quality winter-resistant material with sturdy internal lining woven in Nepal, and waterproof thick cover imported from India.

Each tent is 13 feet X 13 feet X 7.5 feet and can accommodate up to 20 people. Therefore, your benevolent response has helped so far alleviate the distress of nearly 2,200 earthquake survivors.

In addition to this, I am moreover pleased to inform you that the staff (about 140 employees, including MFS

staff) of the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) - host of the Mountain Forum Secretariat (MFS) in Kathmandu, Nepal - has contributed a total of US$ 10,335.74. The ICIMOD office matched this amount with a fund of US$ 20,392.69, providing a total of US$ 30,728.43 for helping the earthquake victims. This figure translated into 185 donated tents at the time, when tents were sent with an extra transportation cost. Currently, however, there is an arrangement in place whereby all donated tents are shipped at no cost by Pakistan International Airlines to Islamabad from where tents are given to the central pool that the government has set up.

While I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to all contributors, on behalf of our least fortunate friends in Pakistan, I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to please continue to provide your precious support.

Although the memory as well as the stories coming from the devastated areas may be fading away from our minds and from the news, this is the hour of greatest need for the earthquake survivors. Weather forecasts for Pakistan are alerting us of extremely rigid winter conditions approaching very quickly, posing a grave threat to the survival of millions still. On behalf of these suffering mountain people, I therefore urge you to please continue donating, as this emergency remains very high.

Thank you once again to all of you who have so promptly responded to this unprecedented disaster with great generosity and demonstration of personal support and care.

Sincerely,

J. Gabriel Campbell Ph.D.
Chair, Mountain Forum &
Director General, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD)

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1. To contribute using a credit card

Click on the following link:

Fill out the form and select "Tents for Himalayan Earthquake Victims" in the field "Program to donate for" found in the "Other Information" section of the form

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Send to:

The Mountain Institute
1707 L Street NW, Suite 1030, Washington, DC 20036 USA

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3. To send your contributions by wire/electronic transfer Please contact us at tentappeal@mtnforum.org for banking information.

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For any question or further assistance on this appeal, kindly email us at tentappeal@mtnforum.org

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * This is a North American Mountain Forum (mf-namerica) discussion list message.

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