For World Humanitarian Day we’re paying tribute to our humanitarian heroes in the field.

Mohammed Hamza, 28, graduated from the Faculty of Economics at Aleppo University and in 2012 he applied to join a Masters in economics at London School of Business and Finance. His dream came to a halt when he was caught up in Syria’s conflict on his way to the airport:

“Due to the war I could not go back to Aleppo and I was stuck in the eastern part of the Ghouta/Damascus suburbs.

“The whole district came under siege and was bombarded by explosive barrels. For 18 months there was nothing to eat but whatever crumbs were left on the street.

“Out of starvation people had no other alternative but to eat leaves and grass – whatever nature could provide. The prices of food and basic items were rising by the minute. Food became so expensive that 1kg of flour cost US $30 and 1kg of sugar reached $25.

“After two years of starvation, agony and the fear of death falling on me, I managed to get back into a suburb of Aleppo. It was there I started working in humanitarian aid.

“After my long journey I felt it was my duty to do whatever I could to help the people who need it and reduce their suffering. I started working for Islamic Relief as a field monitor officer for Aleppo and Edlib suburbs.

 

 

“It was a disastrous situation. I have struggled to sleep at night because of what I see every day and night.

“In Syria, starvation and death are everywhere. It is too hard to separate myself from the ongoing situation.

“There are many painful stories in my mind every day and night, but the story of 12-year-old Nour is one of the hardest.

“I used to provide her family with a share of the Islamic Relief food basket. She and her mum used to queue for hours to get food.

“I saw her recently after she lost her mum and her little brother. She’d also lost one of her eyes. She was crying for her mum and just the sight of her made me and all my colleagues burst in tears.

“Most Syrian children are like Nour. I don’t know what to say or how to help them.

“Ahmad, for example, is only 16 and he lost his dad a few months ago. Last week he also lost his mum and his younger brothers and sisters when a rocket was dropped on their house.

“He had to retrieve their bodies with his own hands. He was holding his mum’s hair – what was left of her – and calling for her to take him with her.

“What can anyone provide for this young boy? It is too hard but it makes me stronger and more resilient to carry on with my work.

“With the help of generous people and with the hard work of charity workers we will carry on and try to bring some hope and help to our people.”

For World Humanitarian Day we’re paying tribute to our humanitarian heroes in the field.

Edgar Morbos, a senior programme officer in the Philippines, retained his calm determination, even under intense pressure:

“Organizing communities is like a steep, uphill climb with a breathtaking view waiting at the top. I have been working with communities for more than a decade, and the job has both its perks and detriments.

“In 2008, I was working on a community-managed water system project in Eastern Samar, Philippines. This community was known for serious disputes arising among locals over water access.

“Water, which came from a nearby cave, was not equally distributed to all households: some families fetch water from common tap stands while others have water connections inside their own homes.

“To help the community have a sustainable water system that is equally accessible to all members, they were involved in all aspects of the project implementation.

“After attending capacity building training for the members of the water management association, the community agreed that all houses with individual water connections must install meters for their water usage; otherwise their connection will be cut off.

“One member could not see how the new system would benefit the entire community. He angrily threatened to hack me with a big, sharp bolo [local knife].

“I could have been easily discouraged then because my personal safety was on the line, but I knew that he just needed to see the bigger picture.

“So with the help of some local officials, we persevered in explaining to him how this project could help his family and community long-term.

“There will be communities that could feel threatened or overwhelmed by what we envision for them. Thus, humanitarians like us must be persistent in making the communities see how our projects can help them have better lives.”

As of 3 August 2016, 3.2 million people across 16 districts have been affected by widespread flooding, with 42 deaths already confirmed.

Increasing river levels have forced thousands from their homes, with more than 250,000 houses destroyed or damaged by floods, landslides and river bank erosion. Only 7,400 people have managed to find refuge in 69 flood shelters across the country, and close to 300,000 people remain stranded in Shariatpur and Faridpur districts.

This year, countries in South Asia witnessed severe rains during the annual monsoon season, including in India and Nepal. The floods in Bangladesh, which began in July, are the result of heavy rain in the north of the country, with rainfall 13% higher than the previous year. Overflowing rivers have ruined infrastructure, and roads and railway networks have been disrupted. For families forced to live out in the open, the floodwater brings with it the threat of waterborne diseases. An initial assessment has concluded that there is urgent need for shelter, clean water, food, medicine and fuel.

With an existing presence in major cities across Bangladesh, the Islamic Relief team is already on the ground delivering aid to some of the worst affected areas, including Jamalpur and Kurigram. The first phase of assistance aims at reaching over 12,000 beneficiaries, offering security through emergency food packs that contain rice, lentils, cooking oil, sugar and salt. The next stage will include the distribution of more food packs, as well as hygiene kits.

With rains set to continue, the situation in Bangladesh is deteriorating on a daily basis.

Islamic Relief has been providing humanitarian aid and implementing development projects in Bangladesh since 1991.

Islamic Relief is working to improve the lives of internally-displaced families, returnees and host communities in the remote town of Myawaddy in Kayin State, Myanmar.

The border town of Myawaddy has had a long history of conflict, one that resulted in a dwindling population that fled the area in search of safety. Only recently these families felt that they could return home. In fact, Myawaddy is now a haven for people escaping violence in other parts of the country. With no real job prospects available, many of these internally-displaced families and returnees have resorted to living off the land.

Women cultivating fruit and vegetables as part of the LIFE project in Myanmar.

Myawaddy’s isolation and lack of advances in agricultural technology means that 80% of returnee households still live on less than $20 per month, with inadequate access to food.

The Livelihood Improvement for Family Empowerment (LIFE) project is designed to address the food insecurity needs of 350 internally-displaced families, returnees and host communities. Focusing on developing their knowledge and skills on appropriate and sustainable agriculture systems, the project seeks to introduce gardens through the ‘food always in the home‘ (FAITH) model.

By implementing the FAITH gardening system, which is a rotation scheme through which vegetables and semi-permanent crops grow year round, families can rely on the produce they grow in their own gardens as a source of income and sustenance.

 

Women cultivating fruit and vegetables as part of the LIFE project in Myanmar.

 

With limited amount of arable land available, a humid climate that sees little rain, and an existing population already occupying what land is free, the majority of returnees practice shifting cultivation. By clearing forests on mountains they are able to cultivate upland rice, maize, groundnuts, beans and vegetables. Now, thanks to the LIFE programme, each of the 350 families has a FAITH-based garden that they can call their own; and to further improve agricultural practices within the community, one person within the village has been trained to manage the project and offer advice and guidance to others.

The LIFE project has:

• Encouraged effective agriculture techniques
• Encouraged the cultivation of alternative crops through the FAITH model
• Encouraged the establishment of perennial tree plantations to ensure long-term sustainability (mangoes, rambutans, pears, peppers, dragon fruit and coffee)
• Introduced Sloping Agriculture Land Technology (SALT) in order to preserve forests and the environment

Islamic Relief has been delivering humanitarian aid and implementing livelihood projects in Myanmar since 2008.

After distributing Iftar packages during the Holy month of Ramadhan in different districts across the country, Islamic Relief Malawi has donated food relief items to 750 households in Chikwawa district in the area of Sub-Traditional Authority Ndakwera.

Speaking with Malawi Muslims official Website, Islamic Relief Head of Programs Sheirfa Mia said this is the response towards the drought that has affected many parts of the country.

“We have decided to come and distribute the relief items to the families who are in need of food and we are giving them a package which contains 40kgs Maize flour, 5kgs beans, 1kg salt and 1 litre of cooking oil,” said Mia

The donation which was funded by Islamic Relief Malaysia had a total budget of 20,000 Euros which is equivalent to 15.6 Million kwacha and the organization has promised more support to the poor families in the country.

 

Here you are! one of the aged women getting her share from one of the Islamic Relief Malawi officials

“A lot of people in the country need more support in terms of food as you know that the country is in hunger crisis following the drought and we want to assure people that we will continue assisting them if we continue receiving funds from our donors and we will try to use that funds for the intended purposes to serve the lives of many people,” said the Head of Programs.

 

 

Sherifa Mia during the case study in Chikwawa district

Asked why they decided to distribute the relief items in the Lower Shire among all the districts she said; “Its because 90% of rural communities in Chikwawa need food aid compared to the average of 50% for the Southern region, Its Chikwawa and Nsanje whose figures are at 90% and we chose Chikwawa just because Islamic Relief Malawi is currently implementing a food security project to complement with our development works.”

Source : http://www.malawimuslims.com/featured/islamic-reli…

Torrential rains have resulted in flash floods across the northern town of Douentza, Mali, where hundreds of homes have been destroyed or damaged.

The floods struck soon after heavy rains began battering the region on 18 July 2016, and have left many families without food and shelter. The food reserves that villages in and around Douentza rely upon in case of emergencies have also been ruined.

Islamic Relief is one of relatively few aid agencies already operating in Douentza, with longer-term projects running in the area to support those most in need. Due to the ongoing security situation in the northern parts of the country, it is highly unlikely that any other NGO will be able to access this area.

Their plight may not hit the headlines, but our existing presence on the ground has allowed us to remain abreast of the situation. After conducting an initial needs assessment, the team in Mali began distributing food aid and essential items to the affected villages, including plastic sheets, cooking utensils, water purification tablets and mosquito nets to prevent the spread of disease for those left homeless by the floods.

Islamic Relief has been helping people affected by civil war and natural disasters in Mali since 1997.