“We were up all night trying to keep her warm, but there weren’t enough blankets. Then we heard her cough. It was her last breath.” Mr. Samid Gul, on the loss of his infant daughter, as told to the BBC’s Andrew North.
“He was never warm in his entire life. Not once.” - Juma Gul, father of Ismail, who was 30 days old.
The George Washington University Afghan Student's Association is collecting donations of warm winter baby clothes to be sent to refugee camps in Kabul, Afghanistan where in the winter of 2012 at least 23 children under the age of five froze to death for lack of adequate clothing and blankets. The Student's Association is seeking donations of warm winter baby hats, mittens, boots, sweaters, snowsuits, blankets, and other children's winter items. The cargo will reach Afghanistan through the generous donated services of the private air cargo companies Global Heavylift and Kalitta Air, both based in Michigan.
Donations of baby formula, dried food goods such as rice and beans, lentils, and powdered milk are also welcomed.
In January of 2012, at least 23 children under the age of five froze to death in the refugee camps in and around Kabul, where approximately 35,000 Afghans fleeing the violence in the countryside are living in unheated tents. The refugees often lack adequate nutrition or clothing for the bitter cold Afghan winter.
(See New York Times: "Cold Weather Kills Children in Afghan Refugee Camps")
Clothing and Food Donations
Baby clothes should be new or gently used and can be mailed in care of the GWU Afghan Student's Association, 5641-H General Washington Drive, Alexandria, VA 22312, or call 703-232-3177 for more information on how you can help.
George Washington University students can pick up your donations in the greater Washington DC area for your convenience. Email Nawa Arsala at: afghan.gwu@gmail.com
Scheduled drop-off dates in Fairfax, VA: Sunday, April 7 from 3-6pm and Sunday, April 21 from 1-4pm at Grill Kabob Express, 11213 Lee Hwy, Fairfax, VA 22030
Monetary Donations
Those who would like to help by making a monetary donation, which will be used to buy additional items for the children's relief cargo to be flown to the refugee camps, can make online donations here: http://www.gofundme.com/2iedtg
If you prefer to mail a check, please make it out to Ms. Nawa Arsala with the note "Bundles for Babies" to:
GWU Afghan Student Association
5641-H General Washington Drive
Alexandria, VA 22312
Bundles for Babies Facebook page
Previous Successes
Concerned citizens around the world, led by Mr. Myron D. Stokes of Global HeavyLift Holdings, Inc., have previously gathered large quantities of winter baby clothes and blankets in response to the child freezing deaths in the Kabul refugee camps. Non-profit organizations such as the British Afghan Women's Society, Development and Humanitarian Services for Afghanistan, as well as private ground transportation companies in and outside of Afghanistan have donated time and services to meet this enormous and critical need. The present project, named Abdullah's Flight, is also working to bring critically ill Afghan children with conditions which cannot be treated in Afghanistan, but which can be treated in the States, to U.S. clinics for treatment. Please see articles below for coverage.
DHL Volunteers help distribute winter baby clothes in Kabul.
Ismail's Flight: "Volunteers, Airlines Lift Tons of Baby Clothes to
Refugees Fleeing War in Afghanistan"
UNPRECEDENTED PRIVATE EFFORT AIRLIFT OF DONATED WINTER BABY CLOTHES FOR AFGHAN CHILDREN ARRIVES
Mayo Clinic Jacksonville Revealed as Coordinating Point For Humanitarian Airlift
UPDATE: "ISMAIL'S FLIGHT", A Conjoined Relief Effort of Kalitta Air,
DHL, Aviapartner, Fast Forward Freight and Global HeavyLift
New York Times: "Cold Weather Kills Children in Afghan Refugee Camps," 2/4/2012
New York Times: "Uncovering the Sadness of Young Deaths," 2/8/2012
BBC: "Children freeze to death in Kabul winter," 2/21/2012
