Scotsman readers help boost Pakistan quake aid

AN EDINBURGH charity has exceeded its Christmas appeal target and is hoping to recruit two new volunteers to its Pakistan earthquake relief project thanks to the generosity of readers of The Scotsman.

Edinburgh Direct Aid (EDA), whose work in Kashmir following the devastating earthquake in the region that killed 87,000 people was highlighted in The Scotsman in the run-up to Christmas, had been aiming to raise enough money to deliver 1,000 wood stoves to villages in the Neelum Valley.

Over the past ten days, however, more than £20,000 has been donated - enough for 2,000 stoves.

Denis Rutovitz of EDA said: "The response has been overwhelming. As a result we are going to have to expand our programme, and we are now looking for two volunteers to go to Kashmir for six weeks to deliver the stoves, along with blankets and winter clothes that have been donated by the people of Edinburgh."

EDA is working with the World Wide Fund for Nature and UN-Habitat to provide stoves and build blizzard- and earthquake-proof hard shelters in Kashmir.

• If you wish to donate to EDA or apply for a volunteering position, call 0131-552 1545, write to Edinburgh Direct Aid, 29 Starbank Road, Edinburgh EH5 3BY - making cheques out to EDA (Earthquake), or go to www.edinburghdirectaid.org