German Embassy hosts concert for Kashmir, raises relief fund
Santoor legend Bhajan Sopori and Maestro Abhay Sopori, along with young Sufi singer Ragini Rainu performed in front of a large audience offering a sublime musical experience.
Welcoming the guests, Ambassador Steiner said: “We are with the Kashmiris, not only in times of celebration but also in times of agony. The purpose of this Concert is to show our solidarity and support.”
At the Concert, Ambassador Steiner confirmed his target of mobilizing Rs. one crore for Kashmiris in need.
The funds will go to reliable and experienced partners of the Embassy in Kashmir, among others also to the NGOs Goonj & KCEF- Kashmir Creative Education Foundation, to provide much needed relief items to the Valley, such as food rations, chlorine tablets, cooking utensils, medicine and syringes, blankets and warm clothing.
Two weeks ago, Ambassador Steiner spontaneously announced the first German aid project for Kashmir with a local hospital in the disaster-struck region.
The Embassy has made available Rs. 25 lakh for basic health care in cooperation with the NGO German Doctors.
German Embassy has also provided Rs. 38 lakh to the HELP Foundation to meet the basic needs of the people suffering in the Valley. The first truck of this project carrying mostly blankets was flagged off by Ambassador Steiner right after the concert.
Ambassador Steiner also granted Rs. 32 lakh to INTACH to help restore the pavilion at Shalimar Bagh, where last year’s Kashmir Concert was held.
“Despite the current suffering, we also have to think about the future of Kashmir and the preservation of its cultural identity,” Ambassador Steiner said.
The latest result of the counting taking place on Wednesday morning has been that, all in all, an amount of 1,10,89,820 has been reached.
“I am grateful for all the contributions we have received, which allowed us to meet our target. But, the humanitarian needs remain large and urgent. Every additional amount received, will help us to send more relief items to the suffering Kashmiris,” Ambassador Steiner announced.
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