Tens of thousands of people have been displaced from the districts of Buner and Lower Dir in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) since fighting flared in northern Pakistan last month. The government is preparing for up to 1 million internal refugees, the largest displacement crisis in Pakistan's history.

According to UNHCR (UN High Commissioner for Refugees), in the Swat Valley some 200,000 people had been displaced since August 2008 and another 300,000 are on the move or about to flee. Added to the 550,000 already internally displaced in the refugee camps, the crisis threatens to be the largest man-made humanitarian disaster in Pakistan's post-independence history.

With the conflict zone itself having become a no-go area for relief agencies, Muslim Aid is concentrating on providing essential life support to those in the refugee camps. Shelter, food, utensils, clean water and medical supplies are urgently needed.

So far Muslim Aid has provided:

• Tents for internally displaced families that can accommodate a family of 6/7 benefiting up to 3,000 people.

• 1,000 jerry cans for carrying water.

• 800 mattresses and 500 kitchen sets have already been distributed.

• An emergency medical tent where a 1,000 patients will be treated with basic medical supplies.

• 300,000 Aquatabs, providing 300,000 litres of clean water.

Please help us to provide shelter, clean water and non food items to thousands of families who have been left with nothing.

$250 will buy a tent for a family
$50 will buy a Resettlement Kit for IDPs (clothes, footwear, floor mat)
$50 will buy 10 Jerry cans to carry water
$50 will buy a Family FoodAid Pack (nutritious food pack to sustain a family for 1 week)
$50 will buy a Medical Kit

 

On field action

Playing in the Queensland Christian Soccer Association (QCSA) league, Maradona’s Mates, not exclusive to Muslims and open to all faiths, beliefs and cultures, represents Sunnybank Saints in Division 3 of the 9 QCSA men’s leagues.

 
Our own Dr Halim Rane, Deputy Director of the Griffith Islamic Research Unit and lecturer in the National Centre of Excellence in Islamic Studies at Griffith University, has recently made a name for himself across the Pacific in the USA.

Dr Rane was invited to speak on the Middle East peace process at a conference on ‘How to Improve Relations with the Muslim World’ in Washington D.C.

His presentation criticized the United States’ insistence on negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians in the absence of reference to international law.

Dr Rane argued that the process must be based on a ‘just peace’ and that the United Nation’s Security Council resolutions must determine the final status issues including the acquisition of territory, status of Jerusalem, Israeli settlements, and return of Palestinian refugees.

He presented a comprehensive analysis of all of the UNSC resolutions and outlined a new vision for the peace process.

Dr Rane held his own when challenged by a couple of pro-Zionist attendees and was met with an overwhelmingly positive response from the conference participants.

He has subsequently been invited to deliver five more presentations at various conferences and forums in the USA in September and October this year.

Dr Rane’s visit coincides with the release of his new book Reconstructing Jihad amid Competing International Norms - http://www.palgrave-usa.com/catalog/product.aspx?isbn=0230614833.

A timely update on the state of the economy will be given at the Muslim Business Network forum on Tuesday by Professor Michael E. Drew of Griffith University starting at 7pm.

Boom your place by sending an email to at secretary@mbn.net.au or contact Farida Lambat on 0417 460 200; Iqbal Lambat on 0410 786 227; or Bilal Rauf on 0411 625 462.

by Janeth Deen

On Monday afternoon a truck pulled up outside the shop and the driver asked me if I wanted clothing and shoes that he had in the back of the truck. He went on to tell me he had been instructed by his boss to dump a consignment of goods which were ordered by a Pakistani man. The man was advised that the goods were ready and given two weeks to provide transport of the goods to Pakistan. He failed to do so, so the person who the goods were ordered from (Student Welfare Group) decided to dump the goods at the Willawong dump.
The driver gave me a 200kg wool bale full of clothing and some shoes. He also told me he would bring more bales on Wednesday afternoon. However, he failed to bring subsequent bales. It was probably because I had told him it was shameful to waste goods when there are so many poor people in the world. I did thank him for the goods and he said he did not like waste either, but was just following instructions. As only one bale was given to us, we will keep the goods for the Welfare shop.

An Australian convert came into our shop on Friday and during the conversation we found out she was to be married, inshAllah, by an Imam at home next week in a small ceremony. Her future husband is from Jordan and is still a student and she has just finished a degree in Marine Biology herself. They will be looking for a home near the Gap to rent as she will be starting her first job nearby in an Environmental Park. It will be a struggle for them to come up with the bond and rent as they only have part time jobs. We told her we would help them with household goods for the home. They are only having a very small wedding and are not expecting any wedding gifts.

If anyone can help us help this young couple with kitchenware and linen, it would be greatly appreciated as we have only odd crockery, cutlery and used linen in our shop. The young lady was a very humble girl and does not ask for much, as she said that she would pay us for what we give her once she is earning a wage. I told her the purpose of our Welfare shop is to help those in need. She felt there were more needy people then herself.

If anyone has any goods that can make their life a little easier during this time of economic recession, please contact Janeth Deen on 3344- 5330 or 0435-786-796 or leave the goods at the Welfare Shop with the notation that it is for the newly weds.

They are unsure if they will be able to rent a furnished home or an unfurnished home. It will depend on the market. If the home is unfurnished, we have been given a dining room table and three chairs which we will reserve for them. The couple who donated these goods have actually met the future bride as she was in the shop when they brought the furniture in. They were happy with this arrangement, thanks to them for their generosity. We may also have to ask for enough furniture to set them up, if anyone can help out. This will not be required until we find out about the home they rent.

The Welfare Shop has also helped out many of the needy Woodridge residents with goods during its period of operation, and we are paying our rent and banking a modest amount of money into the Welfare Account. Thanks to the generous support we have been given, we have ample stock and reserves for the next few months.

Are you between 17 and 25?
 

Would you like to improve your knowledge about Islamic sciences?

FAIR is offering young people an opportunity to live in Malaysia for a month to study Arabic, Fiqh, Hadith, Islamic history and cross-cultural studies in the wonderful Muslim environment of the state of Terengganu in East Malaysia. As a part of the program you will also be involved in a Australia-Malaysia Youth conference.

The program will be run in conjunction with the biggest university in the state Darul Iman University in Terengganu.

The course is FREE, airfares and accommodation are also covered (you will stay with a Malay family).

Don't miss this great opportunity. If you feel you are the ready to undertake such a course write to the Executive Director at PO BOX 1013 Strawberry Hills by 24th July 2009.

In your application state why you would like to attend, include your details, 2 referees and a 1 page resume.

If you prefer you can email to fairmedia@fair.org.au
Enquiries call 0412318045

 
Furniture for sale.

View them here.
To view or for further details, please contact Shabir 0415467868 or email shabir.elias@gmail.com.

Looking for a good quality painter, tiler, and house walls and roof cleaner?

Then look no further than Ilia Lena. Call him on 3423 3031 or 0449582822 for a free quote.

Mention CCN and he'll look after you.

Have your say on www.ccnforum.ning.com