Due to shortage of water and food, Pastoralist communities have become displaced in Somali Region. The majority of the people in these sites are women and children as reported who lost majority of their animals including goats and camels which are traditionally considered as drought resistant animals.

Recent assessments conducted in Oromia Region of Borena and Bale Zones show that livestock deaths, malnutrition and school dropout continue to increase while the response generally slow and inadequate.

IR is distributing 102,780 Litres of water per day for 17 villages.

IR distributed 1185 packs of NFIs consisting of basic household utensils, water Jerry cans, plastic mats and washing basin to displaced people.

Think Humanity, Think ISLAMIC RELIEF!

 

Below average rains in the Oromia, Amhara, Somali and Afar regions of the country have led to new instances of drought, leaving 5.6 million people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.

IR Ethiopia has conducted a rapid needs assessment in 2 zonal areas, including Afder, which is the hardest hit area.

Islamic Relief is the only international humanitarian organization with a presence in Afder.

The main needs are water, food and livestock protection (emergency livestock feeds).

The dry season is projected to continue until April 2017.

The affected population in Ethiopia is facing a humanitarian crisis as the drought is expected to become more severe in the coming months.

 

Blankets, food and water supplied to thousands who have fled their homes as winter sets in.

Since Friday (December 16), more than 10,300 people have fled eastern Aleppo to rural areas outside the city and to neighboring Idlib, 37 miles (60km) away.

And in the last three days alone Islamic Relief’s team in Syria has reached 3,500 people, distributing blankets, mattresses and plastic sheets as well as food, water bottles and wheat flour to make bread.

We continue to prioritize our response for those fleeing Aleppo and our team is now assessing needs in other areas and monitoring the situation as it develops.

UN figures show nearly half a million people across Syria have fled their homes since the start of the year, not including the latest displacement of people from Aleppo.

As the spotlight is focused on Aleppo, waves of displacements are continuing in other parts of the country, leaving families in urgent need as temperatures drop and winter draws in.

In a 17-day period up to mid-December nearly 40,000 people in eastern Aleppo had already left their homes and thousands are still waiting to leave.

Now, 700 people are fleeing the two besieged towns of Foah and Kefraya in neighbouring Idlib province.

A key feature of Islamic Relief’s response in Syria is the funding of sustainable projects including education, health, water, sanitation and hygiene, which will support displaced people to live dignified lives.

 

Please donate to support our work in Syria here.

For media interviews and access to Islamic Relief’s photography and video footage from Syria please contact international media coordinator Mohammad Shakir on +442075933237 or +447747022590 or email Mohammad.Shakir@irworldwide.org

 

A man drops to his knees displaying the peace sign with both hands after fleeing Aleppo by bus

Widows in rural Kosova are being supported to set up their own sewing businesses.

Islamic Relief is reaching out to the most disadvantaged group of widows in Kosova, supplying sewing machines and tailoring training.

In the rural areas of Drenas and Pristina unemployment is one of the biggest issues facing communities, and for women raising families alone the situation is particularly challenging.

After rolling out training for 32 widows, Islamic Relief has employed seven women at a mini clothes factory, supplying sewing machines to 10 more, allowing them to work from home.

After Aferdita (pictured right) lost her husband she was unable to find work and struggled to support her family.

She said: “I never thought I would find a job in my life, or have the skills to go out and earn my own money.

“I was very eager to learn new skills but my life took me in other directions and I never got the chance, so this was great for me.

“I have a high attention to detail and learning how to produce different types of clothing required a lot of devotion and care.

“As head of the household – and also a mother – I feel empowered.”

Future proposals include adding a shop to the factory where the women will be able to sell their goods.

Find out more about our work in Kosova here.