[Consolidation of some other posts]

September 6-7, 2004 have been declared Days of National Mourning in the Russian Federation.

The Book of Condolences will be opened at the Embassy of the Russian Federation at 2650 Wisconsin Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20007 on Monday, September 6 from 2 pm to 5 pm and on Tuesday, September 7 from 10 am to 1 pm and from 2 pm to 5 pm. The Embassy is also collecting funds for distribution to the victims of Beslan.

Although the thoughts are appreciated, they are not set up to recieve non-monetary (i.e., food, clothing, toys, etc.) donations.

No word if such a book will be offered at the Russian Consulates in New York, Seattle and San Francisco.

Although I don't know anything about the group or any of its trustees, the Russian Consulate in NY and the Embassy in Washington is suggesting the International Foundation for the Victims of Terror Acts, reachable at

www.MoscowHelp.org

as a clearinghouse for donations. It is a US-based charity registered with the IRS as a 501(c)3, so contributions should be deductible. They were set up in 2002 in response to the siege at the Dubrovka Theater in Moscow (and the Russian Consulate promoted them at that time as well).

The Salvation Army in Russia has a somewhat ambigious status (as do many non-Orthodox Christian groups), so I am not sure that they will have a program specifically targeting Beslan and Ossetia. They were banned for a time within the last five years from operating in Russia, and then a Moscow court allowed them to operate with restrictions.

As for the Red Cross, the ICRC (the international Red Cross) is very actively involved in assisting the victims. See

http://www.icrc.org/Web/eng/siteeng0...a?OpenDocument

I am not sure about the American office or how they earmark donations for specific foreign programs. Specifically donations to the ICRC are NOT deductible for Americans (and the same goes for donations to the Russian Embassy as well, unless they set up such a non-profit in the US).

Thank you Marc. On the www.moscowhelp.org website there is now a forum where you can send a message to the affected families. They have raised almost $200,000 so far, but as mentioned on the other post regarding this issue, their goal is to donate $1000 to each family that has been affected, and as you know, they have a long way to go to reach this modest goal. Let's keep this post near the top, and if you frequent other message boards please pass along this information.

t

ttt

trying to top again; last time it didn't post

Please all of us who are blessed enough to fly/pay great distances for our trips to Europe, and once there spend much on meals, contribute. Note the site will not let you contribute less than $50.00, unless I am mistaken.

The messages on the message boards are very moving. I can't think about it without beginning to cry.

topping one last time

>...the site will not let you contribute less than $50.00, unless I am mistaken.<

Since the site is linked to PayPal, you can just copy the email address go to PayPal and contribute any amount you wish.

topping

Surviving children - victims of terror - and their mothers are flown to Israel for further treatment according to today's Jerusalem Post. So at least the children are getting experienced psychological help.

topping

Just an update: according to the moscowhelp.com website, they've accepted over $629,000 in donations.

Keep up the good work, folks.

Over $755,000 has been raised for the families of those affected by the terrorist attack on the school in Beslan. The suffering continues and we need to keep the people of Beslan in our thoughts, prayers and good works. For more information, please go to: http://www.privet.com/moscowhelp/vie...945eab86ce9eb2

topping for a good cause.

An article on the start of a trial is on CNN

http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/europe....ap/index.html