Special Message from the President of the World Federation to the participants of the meeting on Feb 14 in Kutch

Respected Leaders of the Khoja Shia Ithnaasheri Community,

Assalamu Alaykum.

Firstly, my heart goes out to all the munineen in affected areas. For all of us here at the Secretariat, our thoughts and prayers have been very much with our brothers and sisters in Bhuj, Nagalpur, Maria and elsewhere ever since the calamity that befell us on Friday Jan 26. I pray for their safety and well being and wish to assure our Community through the President of The Federation of Kutch and Kutch Jamaat Leaders, that the World Federation, in conjunction with all the regional federations and agencies, will leave no stone unturned to promptly assist, enable and facilitate the resettlement of our brethren in all the affected areas. 

At this juncture I must commend the rapid response by all those endeavored to accord timely assistance by arranging convoys to deliver drinking water, foodstuffs, tents, and essential medical supplies. In particular I wish to acknowledge the efforts of the Council Of Gujarat personally led by the President AlHaj Gulubhai Bhurani, AlHaj Chotubhai (Salim) Dosani and his team, Al Hajj Sajjad Varteji and his team and others. 

The support from the Khoja Shia Ithn-Asheri Community all around the globe has been tremendous. The Kutch Disaster Desk (KDD) set up by the World Federation has been coordinating and collating data on all relief efforts with all the parties and issuing frequent updates for the information of the Community. The KDD has responded to hundreds of calls and emails from anxious relatives from all over the world in the last few days. 

It is my earnest hope and prayer that at this landmark meeting, The World Federation representation led by our Vice President Dr Ahmed Hassam, joined by the Hon Treasurer Alhaj Ahmed Daya and Executive Councilor Alhaj Aunali Saleh Mohammed will be able to engage in fruitful deliberations with all of you, in charting out a comprehensive plan to resettle who wish to remain in the affected areas as well as assist these wish to move to nearby areas. 

Needless to say we will need to address the many diverse issues in order to plan their settlement such as housing, businesses, farming or employment Equally important, we will need to ensure as much as possible the education of children is not affected. 

We will also need to embark upon rebuilding our mosques and Imambargahs in accordance with the requirements of the population. I would particularly encourage where possible utilizing the land to build houses too. This will have an added benefit of having the community within the close proximity of the religious centers.

I urge you all that together as a Community we must optimize our efforts, pool our resources, and set out modalities towards formulating a comprehensive and a professionally prepared plan for the resettlement and rehabilitation of the mumineen in the affected areas. Once formulated, let us all pledge to join hands in bringing that plan to fruition for the affected mumineen for the pleasure of Allah Subhanahu Wat’ala. 


Wassalamu Alaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatu

Hasnain Walji