First-Year Solicits Aid for Egyptians

A Harvard first-year student is soliciting donations for victims of the deadly earthquake which struck Cairo, Egypt, this week.

Ashraf S. Hegazy '96 will begin accepting donations today from students and the community to aid victims of Monday's trembler which leveled buildings and killed an estimated 450 people.

"If each student gives 10 cents, we will have a lot more than we have now," Hegazy said. "No donation is too small."

Hegazy, who has relatives living a few kilometers from the quake's epicenter, said he plans to name his organization EgyptAid.

Donations received by EgyptAid will be sent to the Egyptian National Bank for the purchase of food, medicine and temporary shelter, he said.

Leila F. Sahyoun '94, president of the Harvard-Radcliffe Society of Arab Students, said that her organization will help Hegazy in his relief efforts.

"We are having a meeting tomorrow to discuss the situation," Sahyoun said last night. "We will help him out in terms of manpower, handing out flyers."

Monday's earthquake was the most powerful to strike Egypt in recent history. It measured 5.9 on the Richter scale and caused an estimated $150 million in damage.

People wishing to contribute to EgyptAid should call Hegazy at 493-3919.