Dikurniakan kehidupan yang baik dan stabil tidak sekali pun menjadikan wanita ini terus berada di zon selesa, malah kudrat yang ada disalurkan pula kepada mereka yang memerlukan melalui misi kemanusiaan yang disertainya sejak 17 tahun lalu.

Berkesempatan menemui Siti Fadilah Mohd Hood, 41, baru-baru ini menyingkap pembabitan wanita ini dalam bidang kemanusiaan yang begitu dekat di hatinya sejak bergelar pelajar di Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) dalam jurusan Kejuruteraan Bioteknologi.

Menurut Siti Fadilah, pada waktu itu, aktiviti amal dan kemasyarakatan ialah sesuatu yang biasa bagi pelajar-pelajar UIAM tetapi tidak bagi pelajar-pelajar kejuruteraan yang banyak menghabiskan masa di makmal dan bengkel.

Melihat rakan-rakan daripada Fakulti Ekonomi, Sains Kemanusiaan, dan Undang-Undang yang aktif berpersatuan, Siti Fadilah turut berhasrat untuk terlibat dengan aktiviti kesukarelawan satu hari nanti.

“Alhamdulillah, sepanjang belajar di UIAM, saya sempat mengikuti satu aktiviti kesukarelawan bersama orang asli. Sejak itu, saya memasang niat untuk terus melakukan kerja-kerja amal.

“Saya masih ingat, waktu saya hamil anak pertama dan sedang menyiapkan projek tahun akhir di dalam makmal, saya pernah terdetik ‘kalaulah saya boleh bertukar bidang’..,” katanya.

Belajar dalam bidang yang menuntut Siti Fadilah untuk sentiasa fokus dan tekun membuatkan niat menyertai kerja sosial terbatas. Pada masa yang sama membuatkan Siti Fadilah turut meronta-ronta ingin menerokai peluang di mana dia boleh membantu ramai orang. Tidak pernah menyesal dengan jurusan yang diambil, malahan ilmu yang diperolehi dimanfaatkan sebaiknya dalam bidang kemanusiaan.

Mengenai pembabitan Siti Fadilah dalam pertubuhan bukan Kerajaan (NGO) Islamic Relief Malaysia (IR Malaysia), ia bermula pada tahun 2005 dimana dia terlibat sebagai sukarelawan di dalam majlis pelancaran IR Malaysia yang dirasmikan oleh Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad.

Selepas tamat belajar, Siti Fadilah memohon kekosongan jawatan di IR Malaysia. Andai takdir sudah tertulis, tiada siapa dapat menghalang. Siti Fadilah diterima bekerja di IR Malaysia pada tahun 2007 dengan jawatan pertama sebagai Fundraising Support Assistant.

Peluang itu membuka ruang seluas-luasnya kepada Siti Fadilah untuk terus bergiat aktif secara langsung dalam kerja-kerja amal dan kebajikan.

Masih segar dalam ingatan Siti Fadilah apabila mendapat tugasan pertama untuk membuka kaunter pameran di sebuah masjid pada waktu solat Jumaat.

Waktu itu, bukan mudah bagi Siti Fadilah untuk berhadapan dengan kelompok orang lelaki apatah lagi waktu itu, masyarakat Malaysia tidak begitu mengenali dan terdedah dengan NGO-NGO kemanusiaan. Jadi, agak sukar untuk Siti Fadilah berikan penerangan dan memperkenalkan IR Malaysia kepada kumpulan sasar. 

Walaupun dipandang serong dan disoal, Siti Fadilah cekalkan hati dan meneruskan aktiviti tersebut kerana Siti Fadilah yakin tentang misinya untuk membantu insan-insan memerlukan di seluruh dunia!

Pengalaman sebegitulah yang membentuk dan menguatkan diri Siti Fadilah sehingga hari ini. Tambahan pula, landskap kemanusiaan telah mula berubah sejak beberapa tahun kebelakangan ini. Masyarakat mula cakna dan anak-anak muda dilihat aktif melakukan kerja-kerja amal dan kebajikan.

“Tahun 2007-2010, saya banyak melakukan tugasan di dalam Malaysia, sehinggalah pada tahun 2011, saya diberi peluang untuk menghadiri bengkel anak yatim di Indonesia bersama Islamic Relief global.

“Waktu tu, baru saya terbuka minda dan mata hati betapa besarnya Islamic Relief dan gerak kerja yang dijalankan sangat berstruktur, teratur dan terkehadapan. Yang saya paling kagum masa tu, Islamic Relief mempunyai sistem yang dapat menguruskan penajaan ribuan anak yatim daripada 40 rangkaian pejabat Islamic Relief!” katanya.

Bagi Siti Fadilah, bengkel itu benar-benar membuka minda dan memberi kesedaran kepadanya bahawa dia perlu melangkah ke hadapan. NGO yang disertainya bukan NGO biasa tetapi sebuah badan berstruktur yang ditadbir dengan baik di lebih 40 negara.

Sejak itu, Siti Fadilah mula memikirkan cara bagaimana untuk menjadikan IR Malaysia lebih dikenali hingga ke peringkat global. Satu demi satu langkah diambil bagi memastikan impiannya tercapai.

Hari ini, Siti Fadilah yang kini memegang tanggungjawab sebagai Timbalan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif IR Malaysia bersyukur apabila melihat organisasi itu telah bergerak jauh dalam menghulurkan khidmat bakti membantu golongan rentan di Malaysia dan di luar negara.

Siti Fadilah juga bertuah kerana sepanjang pembabitan dalam dunia kemanusiaan, suami dan ibu bapa menjadi tulang belakang dalam menguruskan lima orang anak dan keluarga ketika komitmen kerja menuntut pengorbanan masa dan tenaganya.

Wanita pencetus perubahan masyarakat dan negara

Bagi menghargai peranan dan pencapaian wanita, baru-baru ini, seluruh dunia telah meraikan golongan wanita daripada seluruh lapisan masyarakat sempena Hari Wanita Antarabangsa yang disambut pada 8 Mac setiap tahun.

Sebagai seorang wanita yang telah lama berkecimpung dalam bidang ini, Siti Fadilah turut berkongsi betapa golongan wanita memainkan peranan yang sangat penting dalam pembangunan masyarakat dan negara.

Selaras dengan Matlamat Pembangunan Mampan oleh Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB) yang menekankan aspek gender equality atau kesaksamaan gender dalam salah satu objektifnya, IR Malaysia turut menerapkan agenda ini dalam gerak kerja bantuannya.

“Di Islamic Relief, kesaksamaan yang dibawa ialah dari sudut memberi peluang kepada wanita-wanita untuk mengubah masa depan atau meningkatkan taraf hidup keluarga mereka.

“Kami beri fokus pada wanita samada ibu tunggal atau keluarga yang diketuai oleh wanita dan kebanyakan program yang Islamic Relief jalankan untuk membantu mereka bersifat jangka masa panjang atau kehidupan lestari.

“Keutamaan Islamic Relief ialah untuk membangunkan ekonomi mereka dengan cara memberi latihan, mengasah skil dan kemahiran atau menambah baik perniagaan sedia ada supaya mereka dapat kembangkan lagi pendapatan mereka contohnya dari RM500 ke RM6,000 sebulan.

“Kami juga pernah ada kajian kes seorang penerima manfaat yang dapat menambah pendapatan dari RM1,000 ke RM15,000 sebulan hasil bantuan dan bimbingan yang diberikan,” katanya.

Tambah Siti Fadilah, antara projek-projek IR Malaysia yang dilaksanakan untuk membantu golongan wanita ialah Growth Entrepreneurship Assistance Programme (GRAP), Goft of Hope (GOH), Smart Farming di Sabah dan projek kehidupan mampan di Sarawak.

Selain membantu golongan wanita di dalam Malaysia, IR Malaysia turut meluaskan bantuan di luar negara. Sebagai contoh, IR Malaysia pernah menyalurkan dana ke Bangladesh, bukan sahaja untuk membangunkan ekonomi wanita, bahkan membangunkan kesatuan wanita supaya boleh melindungi sesama mereka jika berlaku apa-apa kes seperti keganasan rumah tangga, perkahwinan kanak-kanak dan lain-lain.

Berkongsi pengalaman ketika menyertai Misi “Caring World” ke Bangladesh Oktober tahun lalu, Siti Fadilah menyifatkan stigma terhadap golongan wanita di Bangladesh masih menebal terutama di kawasan pedalaman.

“Bagi masyarakat di sana, golongan wanita tak perlu belajar tinggi-tinggi. Cukup sekadarnya sahaja dan kemudian perlu berkahwin awal. Stigma ini yang Islamic Relief cuba padamkan.

“Islamic Relief bukan sahaja melatih mereka untuk mencari sumber pendapatan tetapi juga memberi pendidikan kepada mereka tentang hak-hak mereka sebagai wanita.

“Antara model projek yang dijalankan di Bangladesh, kami mengumpulkan 400 orang wanita dari pelbagai kampung. Mereka dibahagikan kepada 25 kumpulan dan setiap kumpulan mempunyai ahli seramai 20-25 orang.

“Setiap kumpulan ini akan menyertai kelas atau bengkel bagaimana untuk mencari pendapatan, bagaimana untuk bertani, berternak dan bagaimana nak gandakan pendapatan.

“Paling penting, setiap kumpulan ini juga diajar bagaimana untuk bertindak jika mereka mengalami gangguan atau ditindas. Melalui kumpulan ini juga, Islamic Relief mendidik mereka untuk mengejar impian dengan menyambung pelajaran ke peringkat tertinggi.

“Alhamdulillah setakat ini, bantuan yang Islamic Relief sumbangkan, memberi impak dan hasil yang sangat memberangsangkan,” kongsi Siti Fadilah.

Ditanya mengenai diskriminasi terhadap kaum wanita, Siti Fadilah bersyukur kerana sebagai rakyat Malaysia, wanita di sini mendapat peluang yang sama rata untuk berada di dalam posisi strategik dan penting di dalam sesebuah organisasi.

Ia sekaligus dapat mengangkat martabat wanita untuk memimpin, berdaya saing, melangkah ke hadapan dan meraih kejayaan.

“Selari dengan tema International Women’s Day (IWD) tahun ini, iaitu Inspire Inclusion atau tema sambutan kebangsaan, ‘Wanita Dijulang Negara Gemilang’, tema ini sendiri mempromosikan betapa budaya inklusiviti itu sangat penting.

“Dalam kalangan wanita sendiri tak boleh ada perbezaan. Perbezaan dari segi kebolehan itu memang berlaku tapi tak boleh dijadikan asbab atau alasan untuk sisihkan atau asingkan seseorang itu jika kita rasa dia tak berkebolehan. Sebaliknya, kita kena beri peluang sama rata kepada semua.

“Jadi, sokongan itu perlu kuat sesama wanita. Sama-sama kita raikan perbezaan dan kita perlu faham, perbezaan itu sebenarnya adalah keistimewaan untuk kita lebih bersatu. Berlainan tak semestinya perlu berlawanan tetapi kena raikan supaya bersatu dan akhirnya kita dapat bersama-sama dengan lebih harmoni dan kejayaan dapat dicapai dengan lebih bermakna.

“Apatah lagi dalam dunia kemanusiaan, kalau tiada inklusiviti, makin ramai orang tersisih, sedangkan kita perlu mengangkat golongan yang memerlukan, yang dipinggirkan dan kita perlu membantu mereka berada bersama-sama dengan kita. Jadi budaya inklusiviti ini adalah sesuatu yang kita perlu amalkan, terapkan, selari juga dengan ajaran Islam yang menekankan aspek adil dan meraikan sesama kita,” kongsi Siti Fadilah.

Selain Indonesia dan Bangladesh, antara pembabitan Siti Fadilah dalam menjalankan misi di luar negara termasuklah di Filipina, Jordan, Malawi, Somalia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Kosova, Albania, Macedonia, dan Turkiye. Bagi Siti Fadilah, setiap negara ini mempunyai cerita dan cabarannya tersendiri yang meninggalkan kesan mendalam terhadap dirinya.

Melihat dan ‘merasa’ rakan-rakan di pejabat lapangan yang setiap hari sanggup berkorban, berdedikasi dan komited dalam menjalanan amanah membuatkan Siti Fadilah merasa kagum kerana kebanyakan daripada mereka bertugas melebihi waktu pejabat demi memastikan setiap ringgit atau bantuan yang disalurkan untuk sesuatu projek, dilaksanakan dengan sebaiknya.

Siti Fadilah juga pernah menziarahi rakan-rakan di pejabat IR yang lain seperti Sweden, Germany, Netherland, UK dan ibu pejabat sendiri di Birmingham. Banyak ilmu dan pengalaman yang diperoleh ketika berada di negara-negara tersebut.

Perbezaan warna kulit, agama, bangsa dan bahasa bukan menjadi penghalang buat Siti Fadilah tetapi itulah yang menguatkan ikatan mereka sebagai sebuah keluarga. Setiap kali balik ke Malaysia, Siti Fadilah menanam niat untuk membantu lebih ramai lagi insan yang kesusahan di luar sana. Bagi Siti Fadilah, tiada apa yang lebih penting selain dapat manfaatkan kelebihan diri kepada insan lain selari dengan sebuah hadis, “Sebaik-baik manusia adalah yang paling bermanfaat bagi manusia (lain).” (Hadis Riwayat at-Tabrani)

International women’s day 2024: Najah Almugahed, Gender Protection and Inclusion Advisor at Islamic Relief examines how the needs vs rights debate applies to women in humanitarian crises, calling for more aid to cover women’s basic needs.

After nearly a decade residing away from home, I managed to go back for a visit last year. Home is Yemen, which is experiencing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises. Despite the joy of reuniting with family and friends, witnessing the devastation of basic services, extreme poverty and higher rates of inequality left its mark on my heart. The reality painted a grim picture of a population teetering on the brink of famine, with two-thirds in dire need of humanitarian assistance and protection services, according to UNHCR.

In addition to these challenges, I observed a subtle shift in gender roles. Women in Yemen are increasingly taking on ‘productive’ roles – engaging in income-generating activities and breaking into traditionally male-dominated jobs such as waitressing or retail. However, this shift in Yemen and elsewhere is often sparked by necessity, rather than a genuine commitment to equal rights and opportunities. Even with expanded responsibilities, women continue to shoulder the traditional roles of homemaking and caregiving without a corresponding reduction in expectations.

Women in humanitarian crises

Wars, conflicts, and natural disasters affect everyone in society, but they also exacerbate existing vulnerabilities, impacting women and girls differently. Women are compelled to fill in for their absent male providers, often without any additional support or protective systems and policies. This exposure might increase their risks of gender-based and sexual exploitation and abuse.

We’re seeing horrific figures emerge from the ongoing conflict in Sudan, showing that women and girls are being targeted with sexual violence and rape. The UN Human Rights Office in Sudan has received reports of 21 incidents of conflict-related sexual violence against at least 57 women and girls. The actual number is thought to be much higher as parts of the country remain challenging to access, and there is a lot of social stigma associated with reporting sexual violence.

In Syria and Yemen, we’ve seen the number of early marriages, also known as child marriages, increase during conflict. Rates are 4 times higher in Syria now than before the crisis began. In Yemen, rates have increased from 32% to 52% in recent years, as dowries have increased and poor families use early marriages as a coping mechanism to survive, using dowries to feed other family members.

In Gaza, more than 30,000 people have been killed since October, and 70% of them are women and children. Nearly 2 million people, including 1 million women and girls, are currently displaced. Pregnant and lactating women are at a particular risk of malnutrition for them and their babies with limited to no access to health care. Islamic Relief staff in Gaza report pregnant women enduring C-sections without anaesthetic or painkillers, newborn infants starving to death, and a shortage of menstrual hygiene materials leading to women and girls developing infections as they resort to using any scraps of cloth or torn clothing they can find.

A ‘gendered’ humanitarian response

As humanitarian organisations like Islamic Relief are expected to respond to the many ongoing crises around the world, the sector must consider a ‘gendered’ response. This means delivering aid programmes in an equitable form, prioritising the ones who are most in need.

We must identify and respond to the distinct needs of people experiencing crises through direct and meaningful participation in designing and implementing projects, focusing on the most vulnerable groups. It is the first step to providing access to essential services for women and children, including pregnant and lactating women, older women, and women and girls with disabilities. This short-term response aligns with the long-term goal of achieving gender equality and fulfilling human potential.

Islamic Relief prioritises women and girls in our humanitarian response. We specifically focus on supporting families headed by women through initiatives such as orphan-sponsorship programmes, or unconditional cash, and livelihoods opportunities for women.

Using a protective and inclusive framework ensures that women and girls’ needs are central to Islamic Relief’s response, where we explore all the potential risks and barriers to accessing services and ensure the most vulnerable groups have access to programmes. It is exemplified by initiatives such as mobile clinic services in northwest Syria that allows pregnant and lactating women and others to benefit from health services without additional costs.

Needs vs rights debate

There exists a nuanced debate between individuals’ needs and rights, particularly in a humanitarian context. It centres on whether addressing basic needs should precede ensuring fundamental rights. While there is consensus that immediate needs must be urgently met, the debate arises when initial emergency responses move into phases that include development work, in which both basic needs and fundamental rights are crucial.

Gender equality and empowering women and girls to fulfil their human potential is both a fundamental right and a necessity in order for societies to prosper. Within humanitarian programming, there is a spectrum for a ‘gendered’ response, starting with providing access to basic services and progressing into advocating for transformative gender equality rights.

While considering the rights of women and girls, it is also essential to acknowledge that, for many in humanitarian crises, conversations about gender equality might seem like a luxury. Honing into providing access to basic needs for women and girls is more relatable to their lived realities. Humanitarian projects should have long-term impact and address gender inequality; however, women and girls need to have their food, water, hygiene, health and education needs covered first. It is their social right, as well as need, I don’t find the 2 terms to be mutually exclusive but rather a matter of choosing an acceptable language to achieve the overall aim.

International Women’s Day 2024

As we mark this International Women’s Day 2024, under the theme ‘Inspire Inclusion,’ it is vital to recognise women in humanitarian crises.

The theme underscores the value of including women in all aspects of life, emphasising an inclusive workforce, economy, and decision-making processes. This idea also applies to humanitarian work. Estimates show that 4.5% of the world’s population needs humanitarian assistance and at least half of this number are women and girls. While advocating for gender rights is essential, prioritising the fulfilment of basic needs is fundamental.

In commemorating International Women’s Day, let us acknowledge the ongoing struggles faced by women in humanitarian crises. While the goal is to see women included in various industries and decision-making roles, with reduced caregiving burdens and a genuine belief in their equal rights, the pressing reality calls for addressing their immediate needs first. Only by securing a foundation of basic living conditions can we pave the way for meaningful discussions on gender rights and equality.

The ongoing debate on needs vs rights will persist as the gap in fulfilling needs expands. I look forward to the day when we can celebrate women’s rights and potential on International Women’s Day, rather than still needing to strive for basic and immediate needs. I look forward to a time when more women are doing ‘productive’ jobs because they have the right to choose to do so, not because circumstances force them to.

Islamic Relief supports women and girls around the world to pursue an education, access healthcare and build sustainable incomes. We also work to address harmful cultural practises that contribute to inequality. Please help us to continue this vital work.

This International Women’s Day, Islamic Relief is celebrating women like Oummou, who is leading the charge to inspire change in Mali.  

Domestic violence is commonplace in many parts of western Africa, where society is still largely dominated by men. Determined to confront this is Oummou, who works at a radio station in the small town of Dio-Gare in southern Mali.

As a child, Oummou saw her father and the community around her mistreat her mother. Oummou’s mother had many daughters but only one son, which the community considered shameful. Oummou was also deeply troubled by the other ways in which women were treated in her community, where it was common for men to beat their wives and the community would punish women for perceived disobedience by breaking their hands.

Women suffering abuse were forbidden to tell anyone about their injuries, so they avoided going to the hospital. Witness to this, Oummou decided that if she were ever in a position to advocate for women, she would do so.

An uphill battle

Over the years, Oummou realised that her generation continued to perpetuate the same toxic and abusive behaviours that she grew up with. To push back against the normalisation of harmful practices, she decided to run for election in the local government.

“In the past, women were forbidden to access any government positions, but I fought hard to change this,” says Oummou. “After a long, uphill battle, I was successful and was elected advisor to the mayor [on gender and women’s rights issues].”

Many of her colleagues had never worked with a woman before, so Oummou faced a lot of resistance within the government. Even the mayor disapproved of her presence among his staff.

“I resisted all of the naysayers, despite them giving me a very difficult time, because I had great ambition to see more women rise up to occupy frontline positions,” she says.

Oummou used her position in government and job at the local radio station to reach as many people as possible. On the airwaves she was able to speak to a large audience, helping others in her area realise that they weren’t alone.

Oummou‘s activism came with a heavy price however, as the community she cared for, initially shunned her, considering her to be rebellious. Sharing those views, her husband divorced her.

“I didn’t let this new setback stop me from achieving my dreams. I persevered and eventually gained respect and acceptance of my work within the local government. I became a fixture due to using my radio show as a platform to educate and advocate around issues facing the town, especially creating awareness about issues like gender-based violence and matters pertaining to women that were considered taboo.”

Making a difference

Oummou’s radio work and her work at the town hall complemented each other, and over the years the mayor came to see Oummou’s potential and her determination to make a difference. Despite the difficult start to their relationship, there is now mutual trust and respect between them.

“I endured a lot of conflict when I first started. Not only did the men [in government] keep things from me, I was not invited to meetings, I was spoken to rudely.”

“In time many men realised that I would not be stopped regardless of what they did to me. My mission was clear: I wanted to show men that a woman can do what they do too, and that I have the same entitlements as them. So, when they wanted to put me in my place, I made sure to stand tall.”

Standing up for women’s rights

Oummou says she is finally seeing the fruits of her labour, not only in the women that thank her for standing up for their rights, but also within her own family. She was reunited with her husband after many years, and he is now among her main supporters.

“The different roles we played in the past have come to an end, which has shown me that the advocacy I have been working on has been successful in our home. My husband now sits with our children and talks to them about the issues I cover in my radio show. The issues that used to divide us are now bringing us closer.”

On this International Women’s Day, Islamic Relief is celebrating Oummou and countless women like her, who are not only breaking barriers but also paving the way for future generations of women leaders.

Oummou’s story is a powerful reminder of the strides we can make when we champion inclusion and celebrate the women who are at the forefront of this transformative movement.

Support our vital work to empower women in Mali and around the world: please donate now.

The theme for International Women’s Day 2024 is ‘Inspire Inclusion’, celebrating the diversity and inclusion of women to create more equal societies, and fairer environments where women feel empowered.

To mark International Women’s Day, we are sharing stories of some of the amazing women Islamic Relief supports around the world.

Stitching a future in Ethiopia

“Every stitch I make is a step towards a better future for my children,” says Ifrah, a young mother who had to rebuild her life in eastern Ethiopia after she was violently forced from her home.

Fleeing with her 5 children, Ifrah eventually settled in the town of Jigjiga where she planned to open a small shop selling clothing that she had handstitched.

Ifrah initially struggled to make her dream a reality, but after coming into contact with Islamic Relief, she received funds and training to open her shop. Ifrah says the support she received from Islamic Relief’s Youth and Woman Empowerment Project (YWEP) went even deeper.

“It’s not just about the money. It’s about the trust that Islamic Relief placed in me, the belief that I could rise.”

Despite the challenges of launching a business in a period of economic uncertainty, Ifrah has been able to turn her shop into a resounding success.

In the beginning, Ifrah would struggle to make as much as 100 ETB (approx. RM8) a day, but the business has now grown to a position where she draws in 15,000 ETB (approx. RM1200) a month.

“There were days when inflation hit us hard,” she recalls. “But with every challenge, I learned, I adapted. Islamic Relief’s training wasn’t just about business; it was about resilience.”

Ifrah hopes her shop will inspire others in Jigjiga.

“My dream? It’s to see a street lined with businesses run by women,” she says with a smile.

“Women who started with a small seed, just like I did.”

Harvesting independence in Indonesia

On the island of Lombok in Indonesia, the green mushroom houses of Uus’s farm are a testament to her hard work and the support of Islamic Relief’s Sustainable Livelihood Project.

“There was a time when uncertainty was the only certainty we had,” Uus recalls.

“Islamic Relief changed that for us; they gave us the tools and the confidence to grow, not just mushrooms, but our dreams.”

The Sustainable Livelihood project in Lombok provides women with training, tools and equipment, as well as financial support to launch enterprises such as mushroom cultivation.

Uus’s mushroom farm has become more than a source of income, it is now a beacon of collective achievement for the community.

“We’re not just growing mushrooms; we’re growing lives,” she says.

Her business now harvests up to 40 kilos of fresh mushrooms daily and employs 10 local workers.

“Islamic Relief taught us to cultivate hope, and now hope blooms in every corner of our farm. This farm is our heart,” she says warmly, “and it beats strong for our community.”

The training and financial support provided by Islamic Relief have helped Uus and her husband develop a thriving business, while also planting seeds of self-reliance in her neighbours.

For Uus, the message is clear:

“When one of us rises, we all rise. My success is our success, and I dream of a day when every woman in Lombok has the means to write her own story of triumph.”

Honouring inspiring women

As we mark International Women’s Day, Uus and Ifrah’s stories reflect a shared vision of a better future – a future where every woman has the opportunity to thrive and lead change in her community.

Islamic Relief celebrates the resilience and ambition of women like Ifrah and Uus, who are not only rebuilding their lives but also paving the way for others to follow.

Their journeys remind us that when women are given the chance to succeed, they create a stronger, more inclusive world.

Support our vital women’s empowerment work, which enables vulnerable women to gain agency over their lives: please donate now.

As a call to the World Humanitarian Day in August, the special day was initially recognised to pay tribute to humanitarian workers killed while helping thousands of the world’s most impoverished people caught in some of the deemed riskiest crises on Earth.

 

One historical fact about the incident dated back in August 19th 2003 was, the worst assault on the United Nations (UN) Headquarters blew up in Baghdad, which sacrificed 22 innocent souls including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and the leader of the UN Mission in Iraq, Sergio De Mello.

 

The point is, the main highlight since that incident is the growing risk that all humanitarian workers face to date while assisting people in need. Hence, the World Humanitarian Day is about the present where millions and millions of people remain in need of necessary assistance such as shelters, food, and non-food items as affected by related issues, whether political clashes or natural disasters.

 

Emergency events cause massive impacts on the life of these innocent people living under poverty, and the number of people in need keeps growing each day where they are usually marginalised and residing in the world’s poorest countries. Thus, the responsibility falls right to humanitarian workers without secluding the presence of health care workers in efforts to provide long-term aids when emergencies happen regardless where they are in the Earth and without discrimination based on their social status.

 

Director General of World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus claims, “Health is a fundamental human right, and attacks on health care are a blatant violation of that right.” In more general terms, essential life-saving assistance must be protected at all cost for emergency-populated locations unobstructed by any form of violence.

 

Seeing this, Islamic Relief Malaysia (IRM) as an international and humanitarian-based organisation was delighted to offer a celebration of the World Humanitarian Day on the same day as a call to reminisce the sacrifice made by the past and present volunteers working at the expense of their life and safety in which the objective is to encourage more volunteers in giving aids to beneficiaries.

 

Worthy of note, the event was set up to bring in local personalities in Malaysia as part of the members so they could gain the experience on-ground and spare a thought or two which leads to sharing of knowledge about the event with the public. Irma Hasmie alongside her husband, Redza Syah Azmeer both of whom are humanitarian icons for IRM believe that such event is a good initiative by IRM as it gave more insights for their children to see the real situation by observing what volunteers were doing.

 

“For the sake of humanity, it should not come to our mind that who we are helping, and who they are based on their race and religion. As in line with the World Humanitarian Day, we should never judge their social status,” said Irma when being interviewed.

 

Just as what is emphasised by UN Secretary, General António Guterres, the World Humanitarian Day is a chance for us to express solidarity with people affected by conflicts, crises, or natural disasters.

Shkodra, 29 Mar 2018 – Melting of fallen snow due to warm winds and gradually increased temperatures have caused extensive floods in the region of Skhodra, Albania.

In the last few days, continuous rainfall combined with an increase in discharge from hydro power plants have worsened the flooding situation.

The levels of the Drini and Buna rivers have increased in which their banks have been inundated and caused extensive flooding in several areas.

High levels of water are impacting severely local people as some are surrounded by the water and have been forced to abandon their homes and affected people have been evacuated to temporary shelter.

Islamic Relief (IR) Albania has been responding to the flood by providing water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and non-food items (NFI) support to 600 beneficiaries located in remote areas of Skhodra municipality.

What is happening in South Sudan and the Horn of Africa?

Right now 20 million people are facing devastating food and water shortages due to sustained drought and conflict in East Africa.

In the Horn of Africa (Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya), where successive rainy seasons have failed, it is feared drought will turn into famine.

In South Sudan, where conflict has been ongoing since 2013 (forcing 700,000 refugees to flee to Sudan since mid-2016), the UN has already declared famine and 5.5 million people – half the population – need assistance.

How Islamic Relief is helping

Our local teams are leading livelihood and food security projects, such as: giving training and advice to smallholder farmers, providing climate-resilient livestock and supporting community microfinance.

• In Somalia we are drilling 15 new wells to supply year-round clean water to more than 100,000 people and a £1m recovery programme will plough farmland and supply farming tools, seeds and goats to 3,000 households, as well as bringing 10 underground tanks to capture rainfall back into use.
• In Ethiopia, we are appealing for a £2.2m livestock restocking programme to supply almost 6,000 families with 10 goats each.
• In Kenya we are working in the north-eastern counties to roll out new food and water programmes.
• In South Sudan we are distributing food, water and other crucial items in two camps near Juba to people who have been forced to leave their homes.
• In Sudan we are focusing our efforts on refugees and returnees, the most vulnerable group of people.

Why your help is needed

The Horn of Africa is in the grip of a severe drought. Two successive years of below-average rainfall (caused by one of the worst El Niños in history) have left some parts of Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya facing their worst drought in decades. South Sudan, meanwhile, is in the grip of conflict, forcing hundreds of thousands to flee across the border to Sudan and sending inflation soaring so that food is now unaffordable for many and, in one state, famine has been declared. The forecast offers no relief, with warnings that conditions could get worse through 2017. In Somalia urgent action is needed to avoid repeating the mistakes of 2011-2012 when famine claimed the lives of 250,000 people. Half of these people were already casualties before the famine was declared, proving we cannot wait for the label of “famine” to be applied before we take action.

At a glance…

Ethiopia

• 5.6 million people are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia.
• The main needs have been identified as: water, food and livestock feeds.
• Islamic Relief is delivering life-saving water trucking activities and rolling out a livestock response with support from UNOCHA.
• The situation in Ethiopia is critical and is deteriorating rapidly.

 

Kenya

• 1.3 million people are in urgent need of assistance in Kenya.
• 23 out of 47 counties in Kenya have been affected by the drought.
• The situation is rapidly deteriorating.
• Islamic Relief Kenya is operational in the affected areas of Wajir, Mandera and Garissa counties.

 

Somalia

• 6.3 million people are in need of urgent assistance in Somalia.
• 1.2 million people in Somalia are classed in the most critical category- if there is no rain in March, famine will be declared in the country in April.
• Islamic Relief has signed a letter to the UN Secretary General, highlighting the dire situation.

 

South Sudan

• Conflict has been ongoing since 2013, with a spike in violence in July 2016 which resulted in large numbers of people being forced from their homes.
• 5.5 million people in South Sudan are in need of urgent humanitarian assistance – half the country’s population.
• The South Sudanese government has declared famine in one of the country’s 10 states, Unity.

 

Sudan

• There has been a surge of refugees into Sudan from South Sudan over the last few months.
• In the last two months, over 32,000 people have arrived from South Sudan.
• Roughly 2.2 million IDPs from Darfur continue to be dependent on humanitarian assistance.

Please support our work to help communities facing food crises in Africa.