Muslims Set Blood Drive for Bombing Victims

Area Muslim organizations will hold a blood drive to assist the victims of the East African embassy bombings.

The blood drive will be conducted Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Islamic Center of Southern California, 434 S. Vermont Ave.

“We would like as many people to come out as possible,” said Salam Al-Marayati, director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council. “It’s not limited to Muslims.”

Friday’s bomb blast at U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya claimed more than 250 lives and injured more than 5,000 people.

Donated blood will increase the Red Cross’ overall supply of blood, making more available for needy victims, said Traci Mahan, a Red Cross representative.

The blood drive is being sponsored by the Muslim Public Affairs Council, the Islamic Center of Southern California and the American Red Cross.

The Muslim Public Affairs Council is also issuing a plea to Muslim doctors to offer assistance to the victims of the bombings, Al-Marayati said.

In the upcoming months the council will also organize an inter-faith think tank to examine measures that can be taken to prevent incidents such as the bombings, Al-Marayati said.

“Whatever we can do, any little thing we can do to help, we want to do it,” he said.