A fund-raiser in the Great Hall of the Memorial Union Tuesday night could mean the difference between life and death for children in Afghanistan.

Human Services International USA (HSI) will be holding a dinner and cultural evening to raise money for Life Support, a nonprofit organization dedicated to health and education.

While this specific fund-raiser was originally intended to send help to children in India, the focus was shifted to Afghanistan after the events of Sept. 11.

Money raised at the fund-raiser will help send an American Mobile Hospital (AMH) unit to Afghanistan.

“We will build a basic health care unit with an exam room and lab to transport to that region,” said Shafi Shaafi, president of Human Services International USA.

Shaafi said the basic idea behind AMH is to provide health care to those who need it most.

According to a Life Support brochure, “AMH is a unique concept of fully equipped mobile primary health care units to treat basic illness and train/educate people with healthy lifestyle, nutrition and emergency life-saving medical practices.”

Shafi cited statistics on the number of children around the world who die of easily treatable diseases, which he believes can be reduced through basic health care knowledge.

“Every day, 24,000 children die of easily treatable diseases,” he said. “This number is equivalent to 62 Boeing 747 crashes, or one crash every 23 minutes.”

Shaafi said Tuesday’s event will attempt to make people aware of this crisis.

Royce Bitzer, post doctorate in entomology and HSI Board Member, said he hopes both students and community members will attend the event.

The event will include a traditional Indian style dinner, a presentation with dances and other cultural performances.