Link at warisacrime.org/content/uk-locations-open-donations-blankets-and-warm-baby-clothes-afghans-following-child-freezing-
Announcing: Locations are now open in London to accept donations of necessary items for Afghan child refugees after dozens of children under five froze to death last month in the Kabul refugee camps. The British Afghan Women's Society is seeking donations of blankets, warm baby clothes, children's clothes, boots, shoes, scarves, baby formula, flour, and other dried, non-perishable food items. The cargo will be air lifted by a generous donation of air transport by the American company Global HeavyLift Holdings of Bloomfield Hills, MI.
"Given the urgency of matters, we believe the optimal approach is arranging for direct shipment aboard Bagram bound RAF C-17s", says Global HeavyLift Director of Middle-East Operations Benjamin Ballout. "Every effort is being made to implement this strategy. Moreover, it precludes the necessity of clearances for non-military aircraft flying into a conflict arena. Nevertheless, it remains an option."
Global HeavyLift is also seeking to provide heavy duty pick-up trucks through its automotive industry colleagues in senior leadership positions.
Donations are being accepted at points in North, South, East, and West London. The North location is the postal delivery address, at:
Community House, 311, Fore Street, Edmonton, N9 0PZ, London, UK
For the address of the locations in East, West, or South, please email: baws_UK AT yahoo.com
and/or info AT britishafghanwomen.org
At least 23 children under age five have frozen to death since Jan. 15th, in the Kabul refugee camps where 35,000 people live. Kabul is experiencing its coldest winter in 20 years, with night temperatures since January ranging from the mid-teens to the single digits with families living in unheated tents. The deaths were first reported by Rod Nordland of the New York Times.
New York Times article:
www.nytimes.com/2012/02/04/world/asia/cold-weather-kills-children-in-afghan-refugee-camps.html?_r=1
Across Afghanistan at least 40 children have been reported to have frozen to death, mostly at night.
Freezing deaths report:
au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/-/world/12961278/more-than-40-die-in-afghanistan-freeze/
(See "In the Midst of $2 Billion Per Week Spending on War, Babies Freezing in Kabul for Lack of Food, Fuel.")
www.dailykos.com/story/2012/02/13/1064411/-In-the-Midst-of-2-Billion-Per-Week-Spending-on-War-Babies-Freezing-in-Kabul-for-Lack-of-Food-Fuel?via=blog_683161
Monetary donations are also being accepted to buy further items for the cargo load. American credit cards can be used even though donations are denominated in British pounds. A small conversion fee may be charged. Please reference donation with the note "winter012."
British Afghan Women's Society online donation link.
new.thebiggive.org.uk/charity/view/4913
Further donation information:
www.britishafghanwomen.org/2/fundraising/ways-to-donate/
Photojournalist Andrea Bruce covering the story:
lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/08/uncovering-the-sadness-of-young-deaths/?scp=1&sq=nordland&st=cse
UPDATE: Starvation Among Children in Afghanistan Reaches Epidemic Proportions
According to Save the Children, who are working in Afghanistan, 60% of Afghan children - more than 15 million - are chronically malnourished, and starvation kills 30,000 each year . ITN?s Emma Murphy reports from an Afghan hospital. VIDEO:
video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/46401100