ISLAMABAD, Nov 22: School children and residents in a remote area of Beaver Dam, about 200 miles from Chicago, have collected $100,000 for earthquake victims in Azad Kashmir and NWFP.

The fund-raising campaign was launched by the Islamic Family Health Organization (IFHO) a community health programme, founded by a prominent Pakistani-American physician, Dr Ayaz Samdani. Dr Samdani has been addressing students and teachers in various educational institutions and members of community organizations in Beaver Dam and other towns and villages in the area.

He explained the terrific human and material catastrophe caused by the Oct 8 earthquake.

Speaking to children aged 5-10 years at Cambria Friesland High School in Cambria, Wisconsin, Dr Samdani lauded the humanitarian spirit shown by the American people, in general, and school children, in particular, to help the affected people.

“This outpouring of sympathy at the level of common citizens and children for victims of the tragedy is very touching”, he said.

Dr Samdani hopes to send more money and medical supplies to Pakistan for distribution in the disaster-hit areas.

The IFHO has undertaken diverse community and school health projects in the area. Dr Samdani served as Chief of Staff at Beaver Dam Community Hospital, a facility that has been designated as one of the “Top 100 Hospitals in the Nation”. He is also former president of the Wisconsin Medical Society (WMS) and a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.