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U.S. Muslims Donate Aid for Asian Quake
10 October 2005, AP

Aid group Islamic Relief USA raised about $130,000 from those attending Ramadan services after the earthquake struck Saturday. The 7.6-magnitude quake near the Pakistan-India border killed at least 20,000 people and the death toll was expected to rise.

"Ramadan is the month of mercy and encourages Muslims to give to the poor," said Mohamed Abulmagd, general manager of the group's U.S. office in Burbank. "Now, with this crisis, I expect they will give more for this cause."

The group put out a call to the Muslim community for $10 million worldwide, he said. It hopes to raise about $2 million from communities in the United States. Earthquake victims need tents, blankets and medical supplies, Abulmagd said.

In New Jersey, the Dar Ul Islah mosque in Teaneck took up a collection during Saturday night's Ramadan services. In metropolitan Detroit, home to thousands of Muslims, the quake was a topic of discussions at mosques.

"Certainly, we will hold fundraisers. We always do that when there is a tragedy," said Mahdi Ali, an immigrant from Yemen and a member of the board of the American Moslem Society mosque in Dearborn.

Many mosques also were trying to determine if any members had been affected. Members of the Islamic Center of Claremont in Pomona, Calif., were "shocked and distressed" at the death toll, said Radwan Hafuda, vice president of the center.

"Right now, we're observing the news with sorrow and we're checking with our community members to see if anyone or his family has been impacted," Hafuda said.

In New York, Amjad Iqbal, 30, of Brooklyn, was struggling with whether to return to Pakistan. He nearly lost his cousin, who was in a college building damaged by the quake. The 19-year-old woman survived her injuries but remained in shock. He was going to send money to help his family and other victims.

Donate to the victims of Pakistan-India earthquake relief effort

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