From Deseret News archives:
LDS, Islamic group shipping tsunami aid
In a crammed warehouse at the Salt Lake City International Airport, these items were being packaged and prepared Friday for shipment to Indonesia where thousands have been left homeless after Sunday's tsunamis.
It's the first major shipment of relief supplies out of Salt Lake City — and part of a partnership between The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Islamic Relief Worldwide, an international relief organization.
A flight was expected to leave early this morning to take the goods to the Medan Airport in Sumatra, Indonesia, where over 80,000 have been killed.
"When it comes to a major disaster, compassion holds no bound," said Bishop Richard C. Edgley , first counselor in the LDS Church's Presiding Bishopric.
"These goods are going to be for people of all faiths, most of them will be Islamic, and we will just use our members and leaders and other charitable organizations to distribute however we can best get (these goods) to the people," Bishop Edgley said.
On a windy airport runway, he stood side-by-side with Ahmad El-Bendary, president of Islamic Relief Worldwide, pointing to the empty cargo plane that was about to be loaded with nearly 143,000 pounds of relief supplies.
It's not their first collaboration to aid those in need, both men said.
And it won't be the last.
Other shipments are being prepared for shipment to southern Asia. And both organizations have members in countries like Indonesia and Sri Lanka working to assess needs and collaborate relief efforts with government officials and other relief agencies.
It's an overwhelming job, says Bishop Edgley, and perhaps one of the greatest humanitarian efforts the church has undertaken.
Peter Appleton is feeling the pressure. On Wednesday, he received a call requesting a chartered MD-11 cargo plane to carry the goods.
"It's stressful," said Appleton, who was overseeing crews loading supplies at the Salt Lake City International Airport. "You have such a short period of time to work."
Seven semitrucks with relief supplies were sent to a storage facility, where crews quickly packaged the goods for shipment. It was cold and dirty — and many had worked since 7 a.m.
Dr. Mohamad Abul-Magd, U.S. manager for Islamic Relief Worldwide, called the efforts "overwhelming."
"With disasters it's really painful," he said. "But when you see the response of people it does bring the best out of humans."
In the coming weeks, Islamic Relief will focus its efforts on rehabilitation work in the 11 countries hit by tsunamis, according to Abul-Magd.
"We really need to start setting up rehabilitation — helping people to start help themselves," he said.
The LDS Church has prepared a four-pronged response, starting with a needs assessment and immediate shipments of relief supplies. Garry Flake, director of emergency response for the church, flew to southern Asia on Monday with checkbook in hand to begin coordinating those efforts.
Bishop Edgley will fly out on Monday to meet with LDS Church officials in southern Asia and prepare a long-term plan for relief.
E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com
