As Palestinians mark 300 ‘nightmare’ days since the escalation began in Gaza, an Islamic Relief aid worker* describes fear, trauma, and fading hope.
300 days of this nightmare. Can you imagine the feeling of being trapped in a horrifying dream, even for a couple of minutes? We Palestinians in Gaza have been feeling like that for the last 300 days.
We have spent our days and nights feeling like death is just around the corner. I have been feeling like an airstrike will bury me under the rubble. I have been feeling like my family will be wiped out and our house will be destroyed. I have been traumatized, crippled by fear, and distraught for 300 terrible days. I can’t function as a normal human being. I can’t breathe properly.
I can’t tell you more about the horrors that we have lived during this time: no matter how much I wrangle the words, I fail to describe the situation here in Gaza. It is beyond comprehension.
Heartbreaking last moments of Mohammed Bhar
The latest heart-rending story is that of Mohammed Bhar, a young man with Down’s Syndrome and autism, whom Islamic Relief had sponsored since he was a baby. The young man could not have fully understood what was happening when a combat dog, brought by the Israeli army to his family’s Gaza home, began mauling him. Reportedly, as the dog attacked Mohammed, he screamed and patted the animal’s head, pleading, “Khalas, ya habibi” (enough, my dear).
After the Israeli army forced his family from the home at gunpoint, Mohammed died of his injuries, his bloodied body left on the floor for his heartbroken relatives to find when they were eventually able to return. Oh Allah, I can’t imagine how his mother felt as she waited for the army to withdraw from the area, knowing Mohammed was alone, not knowing if he was alive or dead.
Palestinian families subject to brutal conditions in Gaza
There is no shortage of sorrowful and painful stories here. For example, my sister-in-law lives in Al Burej Refugee Camp. Her family were told to evacuate – to just go anywhere. This is the third or fourth time they have had to move. It is so hard on them: her father-in-law recently lost his leg in an airstrike and her mother-in-law suffers heart problems.
People do not know what to take with them. How do they choose from among their sentimental items, their clothes and belongings? People are tired of restarting their lives again and again. People want to rest. This war is not armies fighting each other – it is a war waged against the people, attacking their food, shelter, their water supplies, clothes, medication and land.
For the last 300 days, we have witnessed the most brutal conditions.
My children missed their entire school year. Their schools are being destroyed – I just watched a video of a school blown up with dynamite. Why? How much longer must my children be denied their education?
How about health services? My friend’s father has a problem with his blood, but doctors cannot diagnose him because the devices used for biopsies are unavailable in Gaza. Nobody is allowed to leave Gaza for treatment, and medical supplies are not allowed in. The man faces a death sentence, staved off only temporarily by painful interim treatments while he waits desperately for a diagnosis.
The Israeli army is intentionally depriving people of medical care. They are intentionally denying food to people in the north, purposefully preventing vaccines from entering Gaza so polio spreads, and deliberately stopping families from getting water.
I fear Gaza will never recover from 300 days of sorrow and trauma
What is this? Why this silence, world? I can’t understand it. I have lost faith in this world, which allows all these atrocities and injustices. I have started to think that death will be the only chance to rest.
I am sorry, my dear readers, that I am sharing all this sorrow and misery with you. But I can’t write anything good about our life in Gaza now. Yes, we love, we laugh, we dress, we go out and try to help others who need us – but we are destroyed inside. We are traumatised, irreversibly damaged.
Even if the war stops now, we will never be the same. As I said to my wife, our old life is gone forever. I told her I’ve started forgetting the daily routine which was so familiar just over 300 days ago. I have forgotten what time we used to wake in the morning. I do not remember my favourite perfume or my best clothes – my wife reminded me, “You had a green t-shirt that looked good on you”, but I do not recall that one. I do not recollect the restaurants we liked, the places that sold nice street food. My beloved city is falling out of my memory, and returning home is an ever-distant dream.
All we want is to rest. To take a breath. To break this cycle. To stop the war.
Please help Islamic Relief support people in desperate need in Gaza: Donate to our Palestine Appeal now.
*This blog is anonymised to protect the safety and security of our colleague and others mentioned. Read the other blogs in this series here.
Today Islamic Relief marks 300 days since an unprecedented escalation in Gaza began with a new report on the scale of the humanitarian crisis.
For Palestinians in the coastal enclave, these almost 10 months have been marked by fear, suffering, hunger and displacement as they struggle to survive under unrelenting Israeli bombardment and siege. International law is being violated with impunity.
More than 39,000 people have been killed – at least one third of whom are children, including over 118 children and young people cared for by Islamic Relief’s Orphan Sponsorship Programme.
Families have been scattered as they flee repeatedly in search of safety, which cannot be found as bombs continue to rain down on Gaza. More than 1.9 million people have become displaced since October, often multiple times.
Trapped in one of the most densely populated areas on Earth, families have minimal access to food, water and healthcare. People are starving to death, and famine looms.
Islamic Relief’s staff and partners in Gaza are enduring many of the same challenges as the communities they support, with one colleague saying she feels Palestinians have been ‘forgotten by the world’. Despite now operating in one of the most difficult and dangerous places to deliver aid, our staff and partners remain committed to supporting vulnerable people in Gaza wherever and whenever they can.
Life in Gaza was extremely difficult long before October 7, but now, for many, it has become truly unliveable.
Please help us to continue our vital work supporting people in desperate need in Gaza, donate now. People in Gaza need aid, but they also need political action. Please continue to demand that world leaders act to get an immediate ceasefire and an end to Israel’s siege.
Islamic Relief is utterly heartbroken to confirm that Mohammad Bhar, the young man in Gaza with Down’s syndrome and autism who was mauled to death by an Israeli military dog, was part of Islamic Relief’s orphan sponsorship programme.
We are appalled at the horrific nature of Mohammed’s killing, which is shocking even amidst the daily atrocities in Gaza. Islamic Relief is calling for an independent international investigation into his death, and for all responsible to be held accountable.
Mohammad, 24, was killed during Israel’s recent attack on the Shujaiya neighbourhood of Gaza City, where he and his family lived. Mohammad’s mother, Nabila, told Islamic Relief that Israeli soldiers forced their way into the family’s home and the military dog started mauling a terrified Mohammad, tearing at his body as he screamed in agony and pleaded for the attack to stop. With Mohammad severely bleeding, the Israeli soldiers moved him to another room on his own, despite the fact that his illness meant his family was usually with him for support at all times. The soldiers refused to allow Mohammad’s mother or sister to enter the room to comfort him or bring him water, and shortly afterwards forced the women to leave the house at gunpoint while he was still alive. Mohammad was left alone in the dark room, critically wounded, scared and thirsty, until he died. His body was only recovered a week later when the Israeli military withdrew and his family and neighbours were able to rush to the house to find his remains.
Waseem Ahmad, CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide, says:
“After so many months of atrocities it is hard to be shocked any more by news from Gaza. But the killing of Mohammad reached new depths of horror and everyone at Islamic Relief is utterly heartbroken. This was a truly horrific killing and the level of cruelty and suffering has shocked millions of people around the world. We can only imagine the fear and panic that Mohammad must have felt as he died alone and wounded, without his family beside him. All our prayers are with Mohammad’s family and friends. There must be accountability for such acts, and there must be an immediate ceasefire to finally bring the massacre in Gaza to an end.”
Mohammad and his mother have received support through Islamic Relief’s orphan sponsorship programme for more than 20 years, since his father died when Mohammad was just 2 years old. During Israel’s attacks over the past 9 months the family has been forcibly displaced from their home multiple times, like most families in Gaza.
The orphan sponsorship programme provides regular cash payments to help vulnerable families pay for healthcare, education, shelter and other essentials. Islamic Relief currently sponsors 15,700 orphaned children and youth in Gaza. Sponsorship begins when children are under 18 years old but can be continued later while they remain in school or if they are particularly vulnerable.
At least 117 children and young people cared for by our Orphan Sponsorship Programme are known to have been killed during Israel’s attack on Gaza over the past 9 months.
Tahun 2024 menandakan satu pencapaian penting bagi keluarga besar Islamic Relief Worldwide (Islamic Relief) apabila organisasi ini meraikan ulang tahun ke-40 penubuhannya pada 17 Januari.
Islamic Relief diasaskan oleh Dr. Hany El-Banna bersama sekumpulan mahasiswa perubatan University of Birmingham, UK pada tahun 1984 sebagai tindak balas terhadap isu kebuluran di Afrika Timur ketika itu.
Hari ini, Islamic Relief telah menjadi antara NGO terbesar di dunia yang menyediakan bantuan kemanusiaan dan pembangunan lestari kepada komuniti memerlukan di lebih 40 buah negara.
Sejak ditubuhkan, Islamic Relief telah menghadapi pelbagai cabaran dan rintangan dalam usaha mencapai matlamatnya untuk mengurangkan kemiskinan dan meringankan penderitaan golongan rentan.
Dari bencana alam hingga ke krisis kemanusiaan, cabaran-cabaran ini sama sekali tidak menghalang Islamic Relief daripada terus menjalankan kerja-kerja bantuan di seluruh dunia dengan penuh dedikasi dan komitmen.
Melalui kerjasama erat dengan komuniti setempat dan sokongan para penyumbang, Islamic Relief tetap teguh menjayakan visi untuk mewujudkan dunia yang prihatin di mana komuniti diupayakan, tanggungjawab sosial dilaksanakan, dan masyarakat bersatu untuk meringankan penderitaan golongan yang memerlukan.
Pengiktirafan Islamic Relief
Hasil usaha keras selama bertahun-tahun, kualiti kerja Islamic Relief telah diiktiraf dan diperakui oleh Piawaian Kemanusiaan Teras (CHS), satu piawaian dan tatakelakuan yang diiktiraf di peringkat antarabangsa dalam sektor kemanusian.
Sehingga kini, Islamic Relief merupakan satu-satunya NGO Islam di UK yang memegang pensijilan itu. Islamic Relief percaya bahawa kelulusan CHS selaras dengan nilai-nilai Islam yang dipegang iaitu Ikhlas, Adil, Rahmah, Amanah, dan Ihsan.
Status Islamic Relief sebagai ahli penuh Piagam Akauntabiliti INGO, penandatangan kepada Tatakelakuan Palang Merah dan pengamal kepada Kod Amalan Terbaik People in Aid menandakan pengiktirafan kecemerlangan Islamic Relief dalam memastikan ketelusan, melaksanakan tadbir urus yang baik dan menjalankan tanggungjawab sosial dalam gerak kerjanya.
Pada tahun 2017, berdasarkan senarai yang dikeluarkan oleh NGO Advisor, Islamic Relief telah tersenarai dalam 20 NGO terbaik daripada 500 NGO terkemuka di dunia. Islamic Relief telah dinilai melalui tiga kriteria berkaitan impak, inovasi dan tadbir urus di dalam kategori kanak-kanak & belia, pemerkasaan ekonomi dan kecemasan; krisis, pelarian, tempat tinggal dan keadilan sosial.
Berdasarkan kepada kepercayaan serta nilai-nilai Islam, Islamic Relief dipandu oleh kerangka Maqasid Syariah yang menekankan kesucian kehidupan dan maruah setiap individu serta hak mereka untuk keselamatan, kesihatan, persekitaran yang mampan, makanan, tempat tinggal, dan air bersih. Pendekatan ini adalah teras kepada gerak kerja Islamic Relief untuk membantu golongan rentan di seluruh dunia.
Empat dekad menabur bakti, keupayaan Islamic Relief untuk mencipta impak positif dalam komuniti yang disantuni telah mendapat kepercayaan daripada para penaja, penyumbang, rakan kerjasama, media, sukarelawan, ikon kemanusiaan dan pihak berkepentingan yang lain.
Komitmen Islamic Relief dalam misi kemanusiaan 2023
Menyoroti tahun 2023, kita menyaksikan pelbagai peristiwa penting yang menggoncang dunia antaranya gempa bumi di Turkiye, Syria, Maghribi, Afghanistan, banjir besar di Libya dan krisis peperangan di Sudan dan Gaza, Palestin.
Di Yaman, Afghanistan dan negara-negara Tanduk Afrika seperti Somalia dan Ethiopia, isu kebuluran terus membelenggu rakyat. Krisis iklim yang kian memuncak meningkatkan lagi ancaman terhadap penduduk di sesetengah negara.
Bagi Islamic Relief, tahun 2023 merupakan tahun yang paling mencabar dalam memberikan tindak balas terhadap bantuan kecemasan berskala besar seperti gempa bumi dan peperangan di Gaza yang berlarutan sehingga kini.
Dalam menghadapi cabaran-cabaran ini, Islamic Relief terus komited memberikan bantuan tanpa mengira bangsa, agama, atau negara selari dengan prinsip kemanusiaan yang didokong sejak dahulu.
Sumbangan berterusan yang diterima daripada pelbagai pihak membolehkan Islamic Relief menyediakan bantuan dan memberi impak kepada 16.8 juta orang di 39 negara melalui pelaksanaan 827 projek kemanusiaan dan pembangunan.
Daripada jumlah tersebut, sebanyak 327 projek bantuan kecemasan telah dilaksanakan sehingga dapat membantu 8.7 juta orang manakala 334 projek pembangunan yang dijalankan pula telah memberi impak kepada 4.6 juta orang.
Bantuan bekalan perubatan untuk hospital dan pusat kesihatan di Gaza, Palestin sejak awal Oktober 2023
Melalui program bermusim, sebanyak 890,000 orang di 32 negara menerima sumbangan pek bantuan Ramadan manakala lebih 3.5 juta orang di 28 negara mendapat bantuan daging korban.
Antara lain, bantuan makanan dan keselamatan memberi manfaat kepada 10.2 juta orang, bantuan sektor air, sanitasi dan kebersihan memberi impak kepada lebih 967,000 orang dan projek penajaan anak yatim telah membantu lebih 91,900 kanak-kanak.
Selain itu, Islamic Relief turut menghulurkan bantuan kepada mereka yang menghadapi cabaran perubahan iklim, meningkatkan bantuan terhadap penjagaan kesihatan dan keselamatan nyawa, serta mengagihkan bantuan musim sejuk.
20 Tahun Islamic Relief di Malaysia
Bertapak di Malaysia sejak tahun 2004 bagi meneruskan misi bantuan di Rantau Asia-Pasifik, Islamic Relief turut berbangga apabila meraikan ulang tahun ke-20 di Malaysia pada 25 Jun lalu.
Perjalanan selama dua dekad Islamic Relief di Malaysia dihiasi dengan usaha gigih dan keazaman untuk membantu golongan yang terpinggir, memperkasa komuniti, serta mempromosikan keadilan sosial.
Memenangi The BrandLaureate CSR BrandLeadership Award bagi kategori bantuan kemanusiaan pada tahun 2018, pengiktirafan itu memberi impak yang besar kepada Islamic Relief Malaysia, meningkatkan kredibiliti dan kepercayaan masyarakat terhadap usaha kemanusiaan yang dijalankan.
Islamic Relief Malaysia menerima The BrandLaureate CSR BrandLeadership Award bagi kategori bantuan kemanusiaan pada tahun 2018
Biarpun berdepan pelbagai cabaran, ia tidak mematahkan semangat pejabat cawangan itu untuk terus menghulurkan bantuan kepada rakyat Malaysia dan juga penduduk di beberapa buah negara yang lain.
Bagi tahun 2023 sahaja, Islamic Relief telah memberi bantuan dan merubah kehidupan 49,178 penerima manfaat di seluruh Malaysia.
Daripada jumlah tersebut, program bantuan Ramadan mencatatkan jumlah tertinggi bantuan yang memberi manfaat kepada 42,556 orang di seluruh semenanjung, Sabah dan Sarawak. Antara bantuan yang diagihkan ialah pek makanan, baucar tunai, barangan keperluan asas dan baju raya.
Islamic Relief turut memberikan bantuan kecemasan pasca banjir dan kebakaran kepada 3,195 orang di Johor, Sabah dan Sarawak.
Bagi sektor pendidikan pula, 620 orang pelajar dan ahli keluarga mendapat manfaat daripada projek Cheer to School (CTS) dan INSPIRE yang dijalankan.
Islamic Relief turut berperanan untuk meningkatkan taraf hidup masyarakat dengan menjalankan projek kehidupan mampan bagi menambah sumber pendapatan keluarga. Sebanyak 1,057 mendapat impak daripada pelaksanaan projek Gift of Hope (GOH) di Pulau Pinang, Growth Entrepreneurship Assistance Programme (GRAP) di Selangor dan agihan sumbangan bantuan tunai di Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Pulau Pinang, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Sarawak.
Melalui bantuan sektor makanan dan nutrisi, Islamic Relief telah mengagihkan bantuan makanan yang memberi manfaat kepada 1,750 orang di Sabah dan Sarawak.
Misi global Islamic Relief Malaysia
Untuk bantuan di peringkat antarabangsa, daripada dana sumbangan orang ramai melalui pejabat Malaysia, Islamic Relief memberi fokus kepada empat sektor bantuan iaitu kecemasan, kehidupan mampan, air, sanitasi dan kebersihan serta program bermusim sehingga berjaya membantu lebih 53,994 orang dengan pelaksanaan 9 projek.
Islamic Relief telah memberi tindak balas kecemasan terhadap krisis kemarau di Somalia dengan menjalankan projek yang memberi manfaat kepada 900 orang.
17,465 orang pula mendapat manfaat melalui sektor kehidupan mampan dengan pelaksanaan projek ternakan dan pertanian di Syria serta projek bantuan anak yatim di Indonesia.
Di Somalia dan Bangladesh, pembinaan kompleks sistem bekalan air dan telaga tiub telah memberi sinar baharu buat 3,780 penduduk kerana mereka dapat mengakses dan menikmati sumber air bersih dengan lebih mudah.
Selain itu, bagi program bermusim, 12,225 orang menerima sumbangan pek makanan Ramadan, 18,802 orang menerima bantuan pek daging korban dan 665 orang menerima bantuan musim sejuk.
157 anak yatim juga mendapat manfaat melalui projek Penajaan Al-Yateem oleh penyumbang dari Malaysia.
Islamic Relief komited tabur bakti
Salah seorang penerima manfaat projek Sustainable Livelihoods of Rural Women Through Micro-Entrepreneurship Development (SEED) tajaan Islamic Relief Malaysia di Pirgacha, Rangpur, Bangladesh
Selama 40 tahun beroperasi, walaupun menghadapi cabaran dan kesulitan, biarpun jarak bantuan jauh beribu batu, walau apapun bentuk kecemasan yang terjadi, Islamic Relief terus menabur khidmat dan tetap bersedia menghulurkan bantuan demi memastikan bantuan kemanusiaan tiba kepada mereka yang memerlukan.
Islamic Relief Malaysia pula kekal komited untuk terus melaksanakan projek-projek kemanusiaan yang bermakna dan berimpak tinggi bagi tahun 2024. Dengan sokongan berterusan daripada pelbagai pihak, termasuk penyumbang, sukarelawan, dan komuniti terlibat, Islamic Relief tekad untuk membawa perubahan positif kepada mereka yang memerlukan.
Dalam tempoh 10 tahun akan datang, Islamic Relief berhasrat untuk mencapai 3 objektif utama; menyelamatkan nyawa dan mengurangkan penderitaan terhadap krisis kemanusiaan, memperkasa komuniti untuk menangani kemiskinan dan penderitaan, serta menyokong perubahan sistem bagi menghapuskan punca kepada ketidaksamaan global dan tempatan.
Terima kasih kepada semua yang bersama Islamic Relief sepanjang tempoh ini dalam mencipta dunia yang lebih baik dan lebih adil buat semua.
PHILIPPINES, July 16 – Heavy rainfall since July 11 has severely impacted western Luzon and Mindanao in the Philippines, causing extensive floods and landslides.
As of July 15, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reports two fatalities, one missing person, two injuries, and 17,832 displaced individuals across 55 evacuation centers.
Approximately 54,289 people have been affected in regions including the Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao, Soccsksargen, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), with significant damage to homes, schools, bridges, and roads.
The BARMM Rapid Emergency Action in Disaster Incidence (BARMM-READI) reports higher fatalities and a broader impact, affecting 107,217 families across 356 villages.
Islamic Relief Philippines has conducted a rapid needs assessment, identifying urgent gaps in food supplies, potable drinking water, health and sanitation facilities, and shelter kits.
The team, based in Cotabato City, is coordinating with authorities and other humanitarian organizations to provide essential support such as food packs, water supplies, hygiene kits, and shelter materials.
Islamic Relief’s latest Annual Report, published today, shows continued growth in our positive impact as we tackle poverty and suffering in an increasingly turbulent world.
In 2023, the report shows, Islamic Relief responded to more large-scale humanitarian crises than ever before. Conflict, natural disasters and extreme weather events devastated lives in many of the communities we support.
Our incredible donors gave more generously than ever, allowing us to reach a record number of people in need.
We supported 16.8 million people in 39 countries through our emergency responses, development work and campaigning.
While the commitment and selflessness of supporters who gave their time and money enabled us to raise a record £274.6 million and made our life-saving and life-changing work possible.
Our Annual Report details how Islamic Relief managed responses to major crises around the world, while supporting individuals and communities to take significant steps towards self-reliance through our development programming.
“Many of the crises to which we responded in 2023 continue to devastate lives, while global hunger, climate change, and faltering global governance snatch away precious development gains,” Waseem Ahmad, CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide, says.
“In all the years I have served as a humanitarian, I have not experienced a more tumultuous time – nor have I ever felt prouder to be part of the Islamic Relief family, as each part of our global federation has stepped forward to play its part”.
We responded rapidly and effectively to humanitarian crises
As we look back on 2023, the overwhelming impression is of a year dominated by large-scale emergencies.
Crises erupted in Sudan and escalated in Gaza, with devastating consequences for ordinary families. Meanwhile, drought and its lasting aftereffects continued to grip the Horn of Africa. Major earthquakes hit Türkiye, Syria, Afghanistan and Morocco, while catastrophic flooding swept through communities in Libya.
Through 326 emergency projects, Islamic Relief responded rapidly and effectively to these crises and many more.
We provided 8.7 million people with food, water, shelter and other essentials after disasters struck and, in many cases, continued working with affected communities to rebuild homes, infrastructure and livelihoods in the months that followed.
Islamic Relief staff prepare ready-to-eat meals for displaced people in Gaza
In Gaza and Sudan, many of our staff faced the same challenges as the communities they serve, bravely working to support others while grappling with displacement and danger themselves.
In Yemen, which remains gravely affected by the global hunger crisis, Islamic Relief’s most extensive aid programme reached 2 million people in need each month with food aid. Working with the World Food Programme, we delivered food and cash vouchers to families in crisis.
We supported the long-term development of communities, families and individuals
In 2023, Islamic Relief continued building integrated sustainable development programmes that met multiple needs in the communities we serve, addressing the root causes of poverty and supporting individuals, families and communities on the road to self-reliance.
We ran 334 development projects around the world, improving access to education, healthcare, clean water and sustainable incomes for more than 4.6 million people.
Our report highlights a project in Niger’s capital, Niamey, which empowered 600 women to start and expand their own small businesses. The project included information-raising sessions on nutrition and hygiene, and trained local faith leaders on child protection and gender-based violence so they could raise community awareness.
As well as the financial boost from their businesses, the women who participated in the project reported an increase in their confidence and involvement in household decision-making around finances, children’s education and marriage.
Aicha is one of 600 women who received support to grow and launch businesses through Islamic Relief’s GOMNI project
In 2023, the generosity of our donors provided more than 91,900 orphaned children with life-changing sponsorship, while our seasonal Ramadan and qurbani programmes helped ease the hunger of some 3.5 million and 890,000 families respectively across more than 30 countries.
We supported over 2.8 people with healthcare interventions and provide better access to water, sanitation and hygiene services to more than 967,000 people.
We campaigned for positive and lasting change
Islamic Relief continued advocating for women and girls, refugees and displaced people and those hit hardest by the harmful effects of climate change in 2023, spending £1.4 million campaigning for positive and lasting change.
With the climate crisis continuing to cause and exacerbate emergencies around the world, it remained a major focus of our advocacy in 2023.
One year on from devastating flooding in Pakistan, we produced a report detailing recovery efforts and advocating for a stronger and fairer humanitarian and international response to climate-related disasters.
In September, youth volunteers in Bangladesh demonstrated as part of the Global Climate Strike
Islamic Relief’s landmark STRIDE project produced a major research paper on localisation and climate adaptation – key issues affecting many of the communities we serve. In 2023, our programmes supported over 205,000 people to become more resilient to the negative impacts of climate change.
In November, we engaged virtually with negotiations at the COP28 climate summit in the United Arab Emirates, drafting articles for the influential daily ECO newsletter published during the conference and speaking at a workshop organised around the event.
We plotted our course for the next decade
For Islamic Relief, 2023 was a year of introspection as well as action. As we prepared to mark our 40th anniversary in 2024, we reflected on the organisation’s journey from a small office in Birmingham, UK, to a major charity with a presence in more than 40 countries.
Over the decades, the support of so many generous individuals have enabled us to improve the lives of vulnerable people around the world, but there is so much still to do.
With this in mind, we launched our new Global Strategy for 2023-2033. At its heart lies the principle that to affect systemic change, we must increasingly address the root causes of inequality and injustice.
The strategy also lays out three ‘core outcomes’ – saving lives and reducing vulnerability to humanitarian crises, empowering communities to tackle poverty and vulnerability, advocating for change to the system and eliminating the global and local root causes of inequality and objectives within each goal to guide us towards achieving them.
As we reflect on 40 years of serving humanity, we recognise that our work is far from done. Poverty, injustice, inequality and suffering continue to devastate lives, and so, we recommit ourselves to increase our impact still further into the rest of 2024 and beyond, with the continued support of our steadfast staff, donors and partners.
We sincerely thank our incredibly generous donors, partners, and colleagues for their continued support.
Read more about how this support has made a difference to the lives of millions of vulnerable people around the world in Islamic Relief’s 2023 Annual Report.
Please help us continue our vital work assisting and empowering the world’s most vulnerable people. Donate now.
