Jutaan penduduk Bangladesh terjejas akibat banjir

BANGLADESH, 21 Jun – Kira-kira 1.6 juta orang di daerah Sylhet, Sunamganj dan Moulvibazar terjejas akibat hujan lebat dan banjir kilat yang berlaku dalam tempoh tiga hari lalu.

Islamic Relief bertindak menghulurkan bantuan kecemasan susulan kejadian banjir yang memusnahkan timur laut Bangladesh itu sehingga menenggelamkan penempatan dan menyebabkan ramai penduduk kehilangan tempat tinggal.

Hampir 75% daerah Sylhet kini dinaiki air, dengan lebih separuh daripada tanaman dan kawasan pertanian tenggelam.

“Banyak keluarga, termasuk kanak-kanak kecil dan warga emas, kini tidur di tempat terbuka di tepi jalan, dengan hanya menggunakan plastik untuk melindungi mereka daripada hujan lebat.

“Rumah mereka telah dihanyutkan dan mereka sangat memerlukan makanan, tempat tinggal, dan bantuan lain,” kata Enamul Haque, Pengurus Program Islamic Relief Bangladesh.

Walaupun operasi Islamic Relief sedikit terjejas setelah salah satu pejabatnya ditenggelami banjir, Islamic Relief tetap membuat persiapan untuk mengedarkan makanan kering, kit kebersihan dan baucar tunai sebagai bantuan awal kepada 5,000 orang yang kehilangan tempat tinggal.

Kira-kira 30,000 orang telah dipindahkan ke pusat perlindungan di Sylhet dan Sunamganj dan angka ini djangka meningkat dari masa ke masa.

Secara keseluruhan, 825,000 orang telah terjejas di Sylhet, 650,000 di Sunamganj, dan 193,000 di Moulvibazar. Banjir itu dijangka berterusan untuk tempoh beberapa minggu akan datang berikutan aliran air hulu dari India.

Perseverance amid adversity: A Syrian family’s story on World Refugee Day

In the face of war and displacement, Syrian refugees have shown remarkable resilience. This World Refugee Day, we share the story of Hana* and her family, who have navigated the challenges of displacement with strength and courage.

Leaving everything behind

Hana was once a thriving shop owner in the city of Aleppo. Her life was filled with bustling activity around running her small grocery store, which helped support her family. However, the outbreak of crisis turned her world upside down. Her shop was destroyed, and Hana’s family was forced to flee their home under the cover of night, seeking refuge in Lebanon.

“I remember the night we left,” she recalls. “We could hear the bombs in the distance. We packed what we could carry and just ran.” Hana, her husband Tarek, and their 4 children embarked on a perilous journey, eventually settling in a cramped apartment in Beirut, the Lebanese capital.

Struggling in a new land

Life in Beirut has been anything but easy. Tarek, a skilled carpenter, struggles to find work, and the family relies heavily on humanitarian aid. Hana’s days are spent caring for their children and trying to make their new home as comfortable as possible. “We lost everything, but we still have each other,” she says. “That’s what keeps us going.”

The psychological toll of displacement has been immense. Hana often finds herself overwhelmed by anxiety and fear for her children’s future. Recognising the need for support, she reached out to local aid organisations. Through Islamic Relief, Hana began attending psychological and social support sessions designed for refugees.

Finding strength in support

“The sessions were a turning point for me,” Hana explains. “I always considered myself strong, but these sessions made me even stronger.” The group therapy sessions provided a safe space for Hana to share her experiences and connect with other women facing similar challenges.

Hana formed close bonds with her fellow participants, creating a network of support that extended beyond the sessions. “We shared our stories, our fears, and our hopes. It was incredibly healing,” she says. The psychological support not only improved Hana’s mental wellbeing, but also gave her practical tools to manage her stress and anxiety.

Tarek’s journey: Rebuilding from ruins

While Hana found solace in the support sessions, Tarek struggled to adapt to their new life. The loss of his livelihood and constant worry about providing for his family weighed heavily on him. However, he found a renewed sense of purpose through a vocational training programme offered by Islamic Relief.

Tarek enrolled in a carpentry workshop, where he could hone his skills and regain his confidence. “Working with my hands again gave me hope,” he says. “It reminded me of who I am and what I’m capable of.” The training not only strengthened Tarek’s carpentry skills, but also provided him with a sense of community and support.

Building a new future

As Hana and Tarek continue to navigate their new lives in Lebanon, they remain hopeful for the future. Their children, inspired by their parents’ resilience, are adjusting well. Their eldest daughter, Lina, dreams of becoming a doctor, while their son, Ahmed, is excelling in his studies.

“I want my children to have the opportunities we never had,” Hana says. “I want them to be safe, to be educated, and to have a future full of possibilities.” With the support of Islamic Relief, Hana and Tarek are working towards rebuilding their lives and providing a better future for their children.

Islamic Relief stands in solidarity #withrefugees

Islamic Relief has been responding to forced migration crises since we began our humanitarian work in 1984, and last year alone provided lifesaving support to around 800,000 refugees.

We are at the forefront of efforts to assist families forced from their homes, including those affected by crises in Syria, Gaza and Sudan, and by devastating droughts in Somalia and Ethiopia.

As well providing lifesaving aid, Islamic Relief strives to address the root causes of displacement, and eases suffering by supporting host and displaced communities and helping communities to adapt to the changing climate.

Hana and Tarek’s story is a testament to the strength and resilience of Syrian refugees and highlights the critical need for ongoing humanitarian support to help families rebuild their lives. This World Refugee Day, let us remember the millions of displaced individuals like Hana and Tarek, and reaffirm our commitment to providing the support and resources they need to thrive.

Join us in supporting families who have been forced to leave their homes due to conflict and disaster. By donating to Islamic Relief, you can help provide essential resources and empower refugees to rebuild their lives with dignity and hope.

*Name changed to protect confidentiality

IR Malaysia, AKM Pejabat Perdana Menteri Jalin Kerjasama Membina Pemimpin Muda

Dalam usaha untuk membina negara bangsa dalam kalangan belia berkepimpinan, Islamic Relief Malaysia (IR Malaysia) sekali lagi diberi kepercayaan untuk bekerjasama dengan Akademi Kenegaraan Malaysia (AKM), Pejabat Perdana Menteri bagi mengendalikan modul latihan Volunteer Aspiration & Social Thinking (VAST) buat kali ketiga di dalam program Malaysian Future Leaders School (MFLS) Tier 3 yang dijalankan pada Mei 2024.

Menurut Pengurus di Pejabat Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif IR Malaysia, Muhammad Haris Sharim yang juga Pengarah Projek dan Ketua Fasilitator Modul VAST, seramai 150 orang peserta MFLS Tier 3 yang terdiri daripada golongan belia dari seluruh Malaysia telah menyertai modul latihan tersebut.

“Alhamdulillah, tahun ini sekali lagi IR Malaysia terpilih untuk menyampaikan modul VAST yang menekankan aspek kesukarelawanan dalam membangun kepimpinan belia.

“Tujuan program ini diadakan adalah untuk membuka spektrum minda peserta berkenaan sektor kemanusiaan sebagai karier profesional, advokasi dan aktivisme, perkongsian situasi dan pengalaman kemanusiaan serta kesukarelawanan, memahami isu dan permasalahan yang berlaku di persekitaran dan di dalam masyarakat Malaysia serta mengajak peserta untuk berfikir tentang solusi dan usaha kolektif bagi menyelesaikan isu masyarakat.

“Peserta-peserta yang terlibat dalam program ini adalah mereka yang telah melepasi beberapa sesi saringan dan pemilihan,” katanya.

Dalam program tersebut, IR Malaysia bekerjasama rapat dengan AKM, Pejabat Perdana Menteri dan rakan-rakan NGO lain seperti Persatuan Haiwan Malaysia, Generasi Peduli Sampah (GPS) Malaysia, Hara Makers dan Toy Library Malaysia dalam membangun modul pembangunan terhadap para peserta.

“Modul ini memberi pengalaman praktikal kepada para peserta MFLS Tier 3 berkenaan komponen kemanusiaan dan kebajikan dengan membawa pelbagai spektrum isu-isu yang berlaku di sekeliling yang mampu membawa kepada krisis kemanusiaan.

“Para peserta dibimbing untuk memikirkan kaedah ataupun solusi jangka masa panjang supaya isu-isu yang berlaku dapat dikurangkan risikonya. Pemimpin muda perlu diberi pendedahan berkenaan isu yang berkaitan dengan krisis kemanusiaan dalam membangun negara dengan penuh tanggungjawab,” tambah Muhammad Haris.

Pelbagai aktiviti didedahkan kepada setiap peserta seperti program pendidikan kesedaran dan kebajikan haiwan, aktiviti pembersihan pantai dan kaedah mengaudit sampah yang diadakan di Pantai Kelanang, pemahaman terhadap teknologi dan ilmu pengurusan sisa plastik yang efektif di PJ Eco Recycling Centre dan pendedahan menjadi toy inspectors dan toy doctors yang membaiki alat permainan serta memahami falsafah hak bermain sebagai hak asasi kanak-kanak bersama Play Unlimited.

Rata-rata peserta sangat gembira dan menghargai slot kesukarelawanan yang memberi pengalaman baharu serta memberi banyak manfaat kepada mereka.

Muhammad Haris berharap semoga program sebegini dapat diteruskan pada tahun seterusnya dan pengisian yang disampaikan meninggalkan impak berpanjangan dalam usaha untuk memberi kesan positif Lestari kepada sektor kemanusiaan dan alam sekitar melalui advokasi dan aktivisme.

World Refugee Day: Horn of Africa mothers struggle amid crisis

World Refugee Day: Horn of Africa mothers struggle amid crisis

In the Horn of Africa, the confluence of natural disasters and conflict has forced millions from their homes. As Islamic Relief marks World Refugee Day, we turn our attention to the enduring spirit of those who have been displaced. These are the stories of Amina and Sacdiya, 2 mothers whose lives have been upended by relentless droughts and violent unrest. Despite these challenges, they continue to strive for a better future for their children.

The crisis unfolds

The Horn of Africa is experiencing its worst humanitarian crisis in decades. 3 years of drought decimated crops and livestock, only for unexpected floods to wash away the little that remained. According to the World Health Organization, over 50 million people in the region are facing acute food insecurity. Among them, the most vulnerable are children under 5, with mothers like Amina and Sacdiya doing everything possible to keep their families nourished and safe.

Amina: Fleeing from flames

Amina lived a peaceful life in the once-flourishing village of Kaaro in Somalia. Her days were filled with tending to her small farm where she grew vegetables and raised chickens. However, the onset of severe drought turned her fertile land into a barren desert. Without rain, her crops failed, and her chickens perished. The situation grew worse still when conflict erupted in her region, forcing her to flee with her family.

“We had to run from our home because the fighting was so close,” Amina recalls. “I could hear gunshots and see smoke rising from nearby villages. It was terrifying.” She gathered her 3 children and embarked on a harrowing journey to find safety, leaving behind everything they owned.

Now living in a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), Amina reflects on the life she had to abandon. “We were self-sufficient. We had enough to eat, and my children were happy. Now, we rely on aid for our survival.”

Despite the hardships, Amina remains determined to provide for her children. With support from organisations like Islamic Relief, she receives cash that enables her to buy essential food items. “I can at least get rice and beans for my children. It’s not much, but it’s something”.

Sacdiya: Surviving the floods

In Ethiopia’s Afar region, Sacdiya and her family faced a different but equally devastating struggle. For years, they endured relentless drought that dried up their wells and left their livestock parched. When the rains finally came, they brought not relief but destruction. Flash floods ravaged her village, sweeping away homes, livestock, and livelihoods.

Sacdiya vividly remembers the day the floods hit. “We heard a loud roar, and before we knew it, water was everywhere,” she says. “I grabbed my 4 children and ran towards higher ground. We lost everything in the flood, including our home and our animals.”

Displaced and destitute, Sacdiya’s family sought refuge at an IDP camp. Life in the camp is a daily struggle, but Sacdiya’s spirit remains unbroken. She has used cash provided by Islamic Relief to purchase food and basic necessities. “This help is a lifeline for us,” she explains. “It gives me the ability to choose what my family needs most. My children can eat, and I have hope for their future.”

The power of resilience

Amina and Sacdiya’s stories are emblematic of the millions of families that have been uprooted by climate change and conflict in the Horn of Africa. Their resilience is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to endure and adapt in the face of overwhelming adversity. Through the support of Islamic Relief, they are finding ways to survive and rebuild their lives.

For Amina, the hope is to one day return to her village and revive her farm. “I dream of the day I can go back home and see my children running through the fields again,” she says. For Sacdiya, the goal is to secure a stable future for her children. “I want them to go to school and have opportunities I never had,” she shares. “I want them to have a life where they don’t have to worry about their next meal.”

A call to action

On this World Refugee Day, we honour the resilience of refugees and displaced persons like Amina and Sacdiya Their stories remind us of the urgent need for continued humanitarian support and long-term solutions to address the root causes of displacement. As we reflect on their struggles and hopes, let us reaffirm our commitment to standing in solidarity with all those who have been forced to leave their homes in search of safety and a better life.

Join us in standing in solidarity with families forced to flee and donate to Islamic Relief to support our work to enable refugees to live dignified lives.

Islamic Relief Malaysia dan Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia Tandatangani MoU, Jalin Kerjasama Strategik

BANGI, 14 Mei 2024 – Dalam usaha untuk meningkatkan gerak kerja kemanusiaan, Islamic Relief Malaysia (IR Malaysia) hari ini menandatangani Memorandum Persefahaman (MoU) bersama Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) dalam satu majlis yang diadakan di pejabat IR Malaysia.

Pemeteraian MoU itu disempurnakan oleh Datuk Nur Iskandar A Samad, Ahli Lembaga Pemegang Amanah IR Malaysia dan Prof. Dr. Akmal Khuzairy Abd. Rahman, Timbalan Rektor (Pembangunan Pelajar dan Penglibatan Komuniti) UIAM, sambil disaksikan oleh Mohd Shukor Tahir, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif IR Malaysia, dan Anizam Hj. Ali, Timbalan Pengarah Kanan, Pejabat Timbalan Rektor (Pembangunan Pelajar dan Penglibatan Komuniti) UIAM.

Perjanjian tersebut menandakan usaha kerjasama yang bertujuan untuk meningkatkan aktiviti kemanusiaan dalam kalangan pelajar dan kakitangan UIAM di Kampus Gombak serta kampus-kampus lain.

Datuk Nur Iskandar menekankan bahawa IR Malaysia berbesar hati dapat menjalin kerjasama strategik bersama UIAM dalam memperkasa komuniti dan meringankan penderitaan golongan memerlukan.

“Kolaborasi bersama UIAM ini merupakan satu peristiwa penting dalam misi IR Malaysia untuk memberikan bantuan dan sokongan kepada komuniti yang memerlukan. Dengan menggabungkan kepakaran dan sumber yang ada, insya-Allah, kita boleh menyumbang lebih kepada masyarakat dan mencapai impak yang lebih berkesan.

“Saya percaya, jalinan kerjasama strategik ini akan membantu pelajar dan kakitangan UIAM dalam membentuk sahsiah dan menjadi individu yang mempunyai sifat keprihatinan yang tinggi.

“Mereka akan didedahkan dengan pelbagai kisah realiti kehidupan masyarakat dan berpeluang mengumpul pengalaman berharga agar mereka dapat mendalami dan memahami makna kemanusiaan yang sebenar,” katanya.

Sebagai organisasi yang berpengalaman dalam kerja amal dan kemasyarakatan, IR Malaysia menjangkakan kerjasama ini akan membuka jalan bagi pelbagai program dan projek bersama. Ini termasuk pembangunan pelajar, perkongsian penyelidikan akademik, dan penglibatan pelajar dalam aktiviti sukarelawan dan kempen kesedaran.

UIAM proaktif dalam melibatkan pelajarnya dengan komuniti tempatan dan global, dengan matlamat memastikan pertumbuhan mampan dan mempromosikan konsep Rahmatanlil Alamin. Universiti ini memperjuangkan konsep Komuniversiti, menekankan bahawa pendidikan bukan sekadar pembelajaran di kelas dan mereka bertanggungjawab menyumbang kembali kepada masyarakat.

Sejak 2011, IR Malaysia dan UIAM telah bekerjasama dalam pelbagai inisiatif, termasuk lawatan ke kampung Orang Asli, ekspo kemanusiaan, teater Lelaki Dari Dhaka, Malam Kemanusiaan, Misi Kemanusiaan Lombok, dan Larian Amal Belon Air, antara lain.

Acara bersejarah ini turut dihadiri oleh barisan pengurusan, pegawai kanan, dan sukarelawan dari kedua-dua organisasi.

Lebih 17 Ribu Keluarga di Syria Terjejas Akibat Banjir

BARAT LAUT SYRIA, 24 Mei – Hujan lebat dan angin kencang telah menjejaskan Barat Laut Syria terutamanya di wilayah Idlib dan Aleppo sehingga menyebabkan banjir kilat.

Banjir ini telah membawa kepada kemusnahan kem-kem pelarian, merosakkan jalan raya dan menenggelamkan tanah pertanian, rumah serta kemudahan perubatan dan pendidikan. Ini menyebabkan berlakunya perpindahan penduduk.

Laporan awal menunjukkan bahawa 24 lokasi di wilayah Aleppo, terutamanya daerah Afrin dan Azaz dan 15 lokasi di wilayah Idlib terutamanya wilayah Harim terjejas.

Berdasarkan penilaian Islamic Relief, 41 kem pelarian telah terjejas dan memberi kesan kepada 6,428 orang. Pihak berkuasa tempatan turut melaporkan bahawa 17,669 keluarga di lapan daerah kecil terjejas dan lebih daripada 521 khemah rosak.

Keadaan berlumpur telah mengganggu akses kanak-kanak untuk ke sekolah dan menghalang keluarga pelarian untuk mendapatkan perkhidmatan penting di kem-kem ini.

Syria yang dihambat krisis kemanusiaan dan konflik berterusan menjadi bertambah buruk sejak gempa bumi kuat melanda negara tersebut pada Februari 2023. Situasi ekonomi yang semakin merosot menjadikan lebih ramai penduduknya berdepan cabaran hidup. Pada tahun 2024, sekitar 16.7 juta orang memerlukan bantuan kemanusiaan, satu peningkatan ketara berbanding tahun sebelumnya.

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