Food remains the priority needs in Beirut

LEBANON, 6 October 2020 – Analysis from the Multi-Sector Needs Assessment shows that food remains the second-top priority needs alongside cash and shelter repairs.

The Beirut Port explosions that occurred last August have caused the death of at least 180 people. Meanwhile, 6,500 injured and left the country with further pressure on the deteriorating economic crisis.

According to World Health Organisation (WHO), the total number of Covid-19 cases in Lebanon stands at 43,480 as of 3 October has caused more than 389 deaths, and at least 1,102 health workers are tested positive so far.

The authorities imposed the lockdown of 111 towns and villages across Lebanon due to the spike in Covid-19 new cases.

There are 1,495 buildings required for water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) intervention. Meanwhile, 533 had connection issues to the main urban water network bringing a total of 6,500 buildings that were assessed since the beginning of the response.

The severe damage to the Beirut Port and devaluation of the Lebanese pound has pushed food prices even further beyond the reach of many vulnerable people as Lebanon imports nearly 85 per cent of its food.

To date, a total of 23,380 beneficiaries received the distribution of food packs. Meanwhile, 2,748 families received hygiene kits including personal protective equipment (PPE), and 10,300 people were benefited from the debris removal and distribution of refreshments at the hospital.

Islamic Relief is currently aligning its response through a multi-sector intervention to ensure immediate support to the affected people apart from continuing the distribution of household food parcels and hygiene kits, including PPE in response to the outgrown needs.

Yayasan Kebajikan Negara and Islamic Relief Malaysia Continue To Help Asnaf Children

BANGI, 3^rd October – Eight candidates of Malaysian Certificate of Education (SPM) who successfully further their studies to university received a laptop meanwhile, other seven excellent students of the Primary School Achievement Test (UPSR), Primary Secondary Assessment (PMR) and SPM received hampers and stationaries sponsored by the National Welfare Foundation (YKN) through the Holistic Education Youth (HEY) project organized by Islamic Relief Malaysia.

In addition, 40 food packs with hygiene kits were also distributed to the students involved in this project as an appreciation for their efforts as well as to help their families which was affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.

All beneficiaries are asnaf and poor children who have participated in HEY program since April 2019.

“The HEY program that we organized has offered free tuition classes to asnaf and poor children in Flat Jubli Perak, Section 4, Bandar Baru Bangi. The aim is to help them improve their education as well as encourage them to be successful person which can help their family in future.

“Alhamdulillah, we have received good feedbacks from students, parents and the teachers who involved in tuition program. Most parents admit that this program has succeeded in giving a good impact to the learning development and their attitude. HEY program are also given the opportunity to students to attend motivational camps, science exploration and worship camps, “said Noor Halimahton Sa’adiah Talib, Program Specialist of Programme Division of Islamic Relief Malaysia.

This program which implement almost 10 months were officially ends by the end of the handover gift during ceremony.

Islamic Relief Malaysia always hopes in future, there are more organizations will come forward to collaborate on this kind of program to empower the local community.

Covid-19 Pandemic in East Africa Further Aggravate

EAST AFRICA, 2 October 2020 – Kenya, Ethiopia, and Somalia see a sharp increase in positive cases and death due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Nearly 40,000 people have been infected while the death toll has reached over 700 in Kenya.

Almost 74,584 positive cases and 1,191 deaths were reported in Ethiopia as of 29 September.

The country condition is still at an alarming level due to a lack of Covid-19 screening equipment, albeit the daily reports showed a decline in the number of new cases.

Harari, Oromia, and Dire Dawa recorded the highest number of positive cases.

Apart from the Covid-19 issue, Ethiopia is also facing flooding problems in six provinces following heavy summer rains from June to September.

More than 1 million people were affected while 315,000 more were displaced.

3,588 people have tested positive for Covid-19 with 99 deaths were recorded in Somalia as of 28 September.

The number of positive cases reported to be increasing. Most cases are among males in the median age of 33.

Madina, Garowe, Wardegle, and Waberi recorded the highest number of positive cases.

Awareness campaigns are increasingly being carried out in Baidoa refugee camp areas as it has a high risk of Covid-19 transmission.

Islamic Relief has taken several initiatives to sever the chain of infections, such as organizing WASH awareness campaigns in Ethiopia and Somalia, identifying 10 locations for hand wash facilities in Afgooye, Somalia, distributing potable water and water treatment chemicals, as well as providing training to health workers regarding Covid-19.

Bulan akademik RISE ketengahkan gaya pembelajaran VAK

KAJANG, 1 Oktober – Inisiatif pusat pendidikan alternatif Rohingya Intellectual Skills and Excellence (RISE) kelolaan Islamic Relief Malaysia melancarkan program bulan akademik bertujuan untuk menambah baik proses pengajaran dan pembelajaran (P&P) kepada para pelajar.

Program itu menyasarkan objektif bagi menyediakan para pelajar dengan cara pembelajaran yang berbeza sehingga mereka mampu mengaplikasi ilmu pengetahuan ke dalam aktiviti sebagai salah satu proses pembelajaran mereka.

Pengetua RISE, Bismi Syaifullah Ishak berkata, kaedah pembelajaran Visual, Auditori, dan Kinestetik (VAK) mengetengahkan tiga aspek yang merangkumi penglihatan, pendengaran, dan pergerakan bagi menyokong secara optimum keperluan gaya belajar yang berbeza dalam kalangan pelajar.

“Saya yakin dan percaya barisan guru telah berhempas pulas untuk menjadikan platform bulan akademik ini bermanfaat kepada pelajar dalam menonjolkan potensi sebenar mereka, meningkatkan pengalaman pembelajaran, dan menarik minat mereka terhadap proses pembelajaran,” katanya ketika berucap di Majlis Pelancaran Bulan Akademik RISE, dekat sini, hari ini.

Majlis itu turut dihadiri Programme Specialist, Bahagian Program Islamic Relief Malaysia, Noor Halimahton Sa’adiah sebagai tetamu jemputan.

Halimahton dalam ucapannya berkata, memahami akan situasi negara yang berdepan dengan isu Covid-19 yang kian meruncing, beliau menzahirkan ucapan penghargaan kepada barisan guru atas jasa bakti mereka mendidik anak-anak RISE meskipun terdapat pelbagai kekangan yang tidak dapat dielakkan.

“Ilmu pengetahuan adalah prasyarat yang mampu mengubah nasib diri, keluarga, dan komuniti disamping ia turut mampu memberikan manfaat kepada orang lain,” katanya.

Sementara itu, Pengarah Program Bulan Akademik RISE, Muhammad Syazrul Shazwan berkata, guru akan bertindak sebagai pembimbing dan pemerhati manakala pelajar akan bertindak proaktif menyelesaikan segala tugasan yang diberikan sejajar pendekatan pendidikan kontemporari dalam fasa menuju era globalisasi saranan Kementerian Pendidikan Malaysia.

Tambahnya lagi, sebelum ini tenaga pengajar menggunakan cara pembelajaran konservatif, namun kini mereka menekankan dua cara pembelajaran baharu iaitu pembelajaran dua hala berasaskan aktiviti dan program.

“Pelajar akan dibimbing untuk mengaplikasi segala input yang difahami di dalam kelas dan mempraktikkannya ke dalam aktiviti. Misalnya, aktiviti jualan dan ‘puzzle’ (susun suai gambar) bagi subjek Matematik dan pertandingan memasak ‘Master Chef’ bagi subjek bahasa Inggeris.

“Saya berharap para pelajar mempunyai matlamat yang jelas hadir ke sekolah bagi memanfaatkan peluang yang telah diberikan oleh RISE dan Islamic Relief.

“Mereka sangat menghormati kami (para guru) dan mereka mempunyai semangat juang dan keinginan belajar yang sangat tinggi. Saya yakin bahawa mereka juga mampu mempunyai masa depan yang cerah,” beliau berkata mengulas isu sentimen Rohingya.

Bahasa Inggeris telah dijadikan sebagai bahasa pertuturan sepanjang berlangsungnya majlis tersebut bagi memperkasa objektif bulan akademik RISE pada tahun ini.

Majlis yang diacarakan sendiri oleh pelajar RISE itu dimulai dengan paparan video montaj, ucapan daripada pengetua dan tetamu jemputan, persembahan pelajar, sesi bergambar, dan diakhiri dengan penerangan ringkas oleh guru kepada pelajar mengenai minggu pertama bulan akademik yang bakal dijalankan minggu hadapan.

Catastrophic flooding in Sudan

SUDAN, 1 October 2020 – Catastrophic floods following heavy downpours since mid-July have driven up the number of casualties to over 120, critically affected more than 830,000 people, and resulted in widespread damage.

The heavy downpours have affected 18 states including Eastern, Northern, and Western Sudan, causing River Nile to overflow which triggering floods and landslides.

The authorities have declared a three-month state of emergency all over the country, requested for international assistance, as well as announced that the death toll from torrents and floods has risen to 128 since last June.

Humanitarian organisations in Sudan have reached over 350,000 people with life-saving assistance due to the worst floods that threaten more damages to hit the country in three decades.

Nearly 16,000 latrines were destroyed, access to water to more than 100,000 people in the Blue Nile was hampered due to the damaged of the Bout Dam, and thousands of farms were affected compromising the harvest and the food security of thousands of families.

Islamic Relief is currently in the early stages of initiating response activities apart from continuing the distribution of NFIs and hygiene kits to thousands of households.

Ongoing Conflict and Violence in Mali

MALI, 25 September 2020 – A total of 5,662 people have been forced to flee their homes due to an attack done by Barkhane in Benzena, Malaki, Talawat, in the community of Inadiafatane, Ghourma Rharous at the end of the last August. Meanwhile, an attack in Tinbamagueye, Issetane, and Azalamzalem happened in September.

Conflicts that occur between the armed groups have killed some people and arrested community elders.

Islamic Relief staffs have started to mobilize the affected areas to identify the emergency needs since 15 September.

Based on the rapid needs assessment, the urgent needs identified are shelters, food, water, sanitation & hygiene kit (WASH), and non-food item (NFI).

This aid also become one of the solutions to avoid any transmission of the COVID-19.

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