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Name
islam_seeker
-
Profession
Question
Asalam-u-alaikum, We view images of the victims of Hurricane Katrina and it pierces ones heart. We were thinking of holding a fundraising to help out the victims however there is just this feeling of guilt to it. I mean America is one of the richest countries and has support from the richest countries, yet there are so many Muslim countries who cry out for the same help every day!! There are images of children, women and elders suffering from poverty and hunger and sickness in Africa, Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine... Would it be justifieable to help the rich who have access to help and neglect the poor. We would love to help Muslim countries but How?? Are there any Muslim organisations that we can work together with...??
Answer
Yes we know America is rich and yes we know that lots of people around the world are suffering and very little relief are coming to them, but in the meantime, those among us who live in the United States know very well that the people in Louisiana are suffering and the wealth in the United States is not evenly distributed and that area in Louisiana is the home of the poorest America. Many of those people are Muslims as well.
Having said that, I personally strongly believe that we should help, and in the meantime, we should never neglect those who are poor around the globe.
There are many Muslim organizations who are helping and we can talk about this later on in the session.
Name
emad
- Egypt
Profession
Question
Assalam alaikum, and thanks for your help in the hurricane disaster. Can you describe for us what actually happened from the beginning of the storm and the measures the government took to help people until now?. thanks
Answer
Wa alaikum assalam. As people are already aware that the central and southeastern part of the United States are subjected to hurricane storms yearly. The problem in Louisiana is that it is direct in the ocean and is below the sea level. The city of New Orleans is protected by a series of dams. When Katrina hits, those levies broke down and the water from all sides fell into the city and because it is below the sea level it changed it into a huge water pool.
The response to this disaster comes for the first part from the American Government. In US there is agency called FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) whose job nationwide is to prepare and take care of disasters within the United States. FEMA used to be an independent agency and it used to have a lot of resources, but after 9/11 a lot of funds were shut and were diverted to counter terrorism. As a result, FEMA was left with little resources to deal with such a massive storm as Hurricane Katrina.
The consequence of this was that the federal and local government response system totally collapsed. The cell phone, the 911 and the regular phone line completely went down. When communication broke down, the federal government paralyzed, and that was what made this disaster even worse.
The second group who respond to emergency are called the State-Based Organization, meaning the Christian, the Muslim organizations or any one that is considered religious organizations.
The third line is the general public. When FEMA work was not really picking up as fast as it should have been, the other groups started to work immediately. Since few days the operation was very slow, but now the operation is underway and for the most part the immediate effect is under control and the urgent need of people have been dealt with.
The long-term problem, which is very serious, is not clear yet.
Name
Leonore
- United Kingdom
Profession
Question
Hello, I would like to ask about who the main victims of this hurricane are. I found that most of the people who died or were stranded were black. Can you explain this?
Answer
The New Orleans area is mostly African American. These people for the most part are very poor. Many of them have no transportation and many have no jobs, and they live on the welfare system. Many are not well-educated either. As a result, they didn't have the means to leave the city when the storm was coming, and many of them ended up dying or being in big trouble. By the way, there is a feeling within the United States that because those people were poor, African American, the response was very slow.
Name
Adham
- South Africa
Profession
Question
Salams to everyone, I was very pleased to hear that Muslims are involved in helping the hurricane victims. Can you please tell us exactly what the Muslims are doing to help both in the US and abroad?
Answer
Wa alaikum asslam. In United States there are about six to seven million Muslims, coming from all over the world. The Muslim community in the United States generates an estimated of 24 billion dollars a year. The Muslim community is also very educated. There are many Muslim organizations that come in four categories:
First, Civil Right Group: Their job is to highlight the discrimination against the Muslims in the United States and try to defend Muslims in the framework of the American Law.
Second, Political Action Group: Their task is to educated the Muslims and help them get involved in the political process in the United States.
Third, Grass-Root Da'wah Group: This includes the masjid, the schools, and other institutions whose job is to protect the Muslim identity and culture and educate the general public about Islam.
Fourth, Relief Agencies: Some of them are local, small groups and some are internationally recognized groups working all over the world.
When the disaster hits, a group of ten organizations, which are national organizations, met in Chicago and formed Muslim American Hurricane Relief Task Force (MHRTF). This group consists of the following organizations:
MAS: Muslim American Society
ICNA: Islamic Circle of North America
CAIR: Council on Muslim-American Relations
AMPC: Muslim Public Affairs Council
LIFE: Life for Relief and Development
Islamic Relief
Kind Heart
Helping Hands
The last four are the relief organizations that are doing the work.
These groups formed the task force and pledged 10 million dollars. Yesterday the Muslim in Huston area along with the task force served the evacuees all day and there are more than 3,000 Muslim volunteers helping in providing services to the evacuees. On top of this certain Muslim organizations provide shelters, housing to many familes; some Muslims opened their houses and overall the Muslim response was alhamdullilah good and this is probably the first time where almost major groups came together and did a wonderful job.
Name
Khadija
- United States
Profession
Question
How does the media in the west show the Muslim relief efforts in New Orleans? Are they showing it fairly or just ignoring it?
Answer
Assalamu alaikum. There are some in the media who want to present the Muslims in a very negative way and some are fair, but overall it is less than what we hoped to see. But alhamdullilah there are those in the media who talk about it and take it to the mainstream.
An example of negative comments in the media was that they showed some Muslims outside the United States who were saying that America deserved such punishment and gave the impression that the Muslims are happy with the crisis.
Others, including the CNN, brought the news that the Muslims pledged about 10 million dollars to help the victims.
I just want to mention something here. The Homeland Security Department asked EMPAC to help in recruiting Muslim physicians to help.
Name
Umm Mustafa
- France
Profession
Question
Asslamu Alaikom. I would like to ask you whether Muslim relief organizations are helping Muslims only or everyone?
Answer
Wa alaikum assalam. We are helping everyone, Muslims and non-Muslims. However, there are certain circumstances where we have to give priority to Muslims because they are not well-connected and they do not know how the system works. But the overall help is directed to all people.
Muslim Relief organizations do not discriminate on basis of race, religion or ethnicity. Our decision is based on the need, and nothing but the need.
Name
Adrian
- United States
Profession
Question
I was horrified to see that old people were dying in their wheelchairs and the situation at the dome where people escaped to find shelter only to be subject to theft, rape, etc. What is going on? What is the extent of the role of US government in the turmoil that ensued after the hurricane? All that looting and violence - it was sickening.
Answer
Well, remember when the system broke down in New Orleans and one third of the police force deserted the service, the city was left with no law and order for a few days. On top of this the people were really in need of help. So it was a combination of pressing need and elements of criminal groups who started the looting. I think it was limited to a day or two.
So basically in a simple language there was no law and order and some criminals wanted to make use of it.
Name
Khaled
- Canada
Profession
Question
Are there any plans to give those victims long-term help or even to resettle them in new places? Do they all hope to return home, even if their houses were destroyed?
Answer
Assalamu alaikum. The long-term solution is not very clear yet. However, some of those people will leave the place permanently and find residence somewhere else. For example, in the State of Michigan where Life for Relief and Development office located, around 10 thousand people are coming to Michigan. Some of them will stay permanently. Some of the evacuees might return to New Orleans after it gets rebuilt. The housing and the job are the major problem. The Housing and Urban Planning Department within the US Government will provide housing for the low-income people. Jobs are also difficult and some agencies are training the evacuees and trying to locate jobs for them. The Muslim organizations are helping in locating jobs too.
Name
Hatem
-
Profession
Question
Can you give us the websites of Muslim organizations who are helping in Katrina?
Answer
Please visit: http://mhrtf.net/news.php
This website has the name of all the organizations that are providing help in Katrina along with each one's main website.
You could locate each organization by its name.
Name
Jerry
-
Profession
Question
It's the first time for me that I heard the Muslims helped in Katrina. What kind of help have you offered?
Answer
As a group we pledged 10 million dollars to help. I can mention some of the following as examples of the help which we are doing:
- Provide housing for the evacuees. We at LIFE, ICNA and Islamic Relief are providing housing in Huston, Baton rouge. Those housing will stay for three to six months. This housing has all the needs including food, transportation, etc.
- Provide food in Huston Area.
- Help evacuees find jobs.
- In the State of Michigan we at LIFE in particular are distributing card gifts where people could take to the local stores and buy their needs.
- Collect food items, water, sanitary, and clothes and provide them for the people.
Name
Nouri
- India
Profession
Question
Assalamu alaikum. Would you tell me please what is the recent situation in New Orleans?
Answer
New Orleans has no people at all now. The government forced the people to leave because the water is becoming very toxic and very dangerous to the health of the people. The Army Core of Engineers are pumping the water out and they are expecting three months before the city gets fully dry. At that point a decision has to be taken whether to demolish the city, destroy all houses and rebuild everything again.
Name
Dodi
- Belgium
Profession
Question
In your opinion, How would this crisis affect the US government's image in the people's eyes? Do you think the US government will be able to regain the trust of the American people?
Answer
Well, if people live in the United States they will realize that America as a nation will recover from this. Whether the government will regain the trust or not, that really depends on the government's action. The present government will always suffer and get the blame for this. But probably a year from now if the government worked hard, you might see the picture different.
Name
Tasneem
- Saudi Arabia
Profession
Question
Assalamu alaikum. How do you think we can participate in helping relief efforts, and what do you need more, supplies, or money?
Answer
For the time being the money is much easier to handle, besides there are a lot of organizations, mosques, churches and companies who are providing food, clothes, and other items. That is why the money is much needed, and it is the most effective way to help the people.
Name
Muhammad
- United States
Profession
Student
Question
10 million dollars...not enough. This is a perfect time for us Muslims to make an impact on ordinary Americans. The media has had a hold on the American psyche since 9/11. We have 6 million Muslims in America and could only raise 10 million...not good enough. Also 3000 volunteers is sad statistically. We could do more and need to take this opportunity to do more especially when the government is seen as not doing enough. We have to wake up fast and respond here. This is a chance for us to show many what the average Muslim is really like. Do you think we are doing enough as Muslims since are the example for humanity?
Answer
Yes, 10 million dollars are not enough and yes we can raise more. But people need to understand that 10 million dollars is not everything; this is only what the task force are doing. There are other local groups, Islamic centers, local Muslim institutions and private Muslim donations. The local groups are working very hard and there are lots of local volunteers, but the 10 millions are only what the Task Force came with, and 3000 volunteers are just what Islamic Centers in greater Huston brought. There are many everywhere.
The need is more than expected and the help is still coming.
Name
Ali
- Egypt
Profession
Question
Assalamu alaikum. What is the most magnificent survival story that you have encountered?
Answer
This is a very interesting question. The story that touched me the most was that of a Muslim man from Louisiana who was giving a speech in Detroit when Katrina hit, and he totally got disconnected from his family. His wife had to drive more than 40 hours, sometimes aimlessly, trying to find a place where she could find a place to shelter her children. He kept contacting people and checking for them until Allah SWT guided him to locate his family. It was very emotional week for the whole family to come together and reunite.
Name
Jerry
-
Profession
Question
In fact I am amazed of what you are doing.. Why doesn't this appear in the media? As far as I know that the churches and the Red Cross are the ones who are the only means of support during this disaster.
Answer
Well, there are elements of people who want to project Muslims in a negative way. And also we have to admit that we as Muslims do not know how to take our case to the media. It is not a simple process and there are a lot of politics involved in this, but I want to assure the Muslim audience who are reading this that the Muslim organizations in the United States are the most effective, efficient, trustworthy organizations who are working extremely hard and sometimes they work up to 18 hours a day. But we also have our own challenges and we need to learn more and more how to work effectively with one another and how to work with others and to reach out to the American society at large and express and show the real face of Islam as the most compassionate ideology for humanity.
Name
Editor
-
Profession
Answer
Finally, we would like to thank Dr. Khalil Jassemm for taking the time to answer the questions of Islamonline viewers today, and we also thank all those who participated in this dialogue. We apologize for not being able to accommodate all the questions within the time allocated to this session. If you feel your question is very important, feel free to contact us at EngLivedialogue@islamonline.net and we will try our best to answer your question. We request our readers to join us in upcoming sessions.
