Annual Report & Financial Statements 2007
Islamic Relief Worldwide & Subsidiary Undertakings
PROTECTING COMMUNITIES FROM DISASTERS
Globally, natural disasters such as floods and drought are becoming more frequent and are increasing in intensity as climate change continues to wreak havoc around the world. It is usually the poorest countries who are most affected by these disasters and who are the least able to cope. If a disaster hits a community, we are prepared to react immediately, providing those affected with essential emergency items. We also work with vulnerable communities to help them mitigate the affects of any future disaster.
As drought and other disasters deplete natural resources so the number of conflicts around the world are increasing. We work with communities who are living with conflict or who bear its scars, helping them to meet their basic needs and build stronger communities.
Long after the world’s attention has turned from an emergency, we are still there, working to help people rebuild their lives, providing them with schools, homes, healthcare and clean water.
Natural disaster
In June 2007 a cyclone hit the Balochistan region of Pakistan causing severe flooding that washed away around 400,000 homes. 2.5 million people were affected by the disaster, with many left without clean water, shelter or food. We were already working in remote areas of Balochistan when disaster struck so were able to rapidly respond to people’s needs. Immediately after the cyclone we provided rescue services to those who were stranded. Over the coming weeks we provided over 6,500 families with temporary shelter, emergency food, kitchen sets, jerry cans and hygiene kits. We also carried out hygiene training to keep people safe from disease and ran emergency medical camps in areas without access to healthcare.
Cyclone Sidr
In November 2007 Cyclone Sidr struck southern Bangladesh. This was the worst disaster to hit Bangladesh for many years, killing around 3,500 people, injuring 40,000 and destroying over 1.5 million homes. The force of the cyclone also destroyed over 2 million acres of farmland and 90 per cent of the fishing industry, leading to fears that there could be long term food shortages and rising rates of malnutrition.
We responded to people’s needs for emergency food by distributing food parcels, and other emergency items to over 46,000 people in Bagerhat and Patuakhali. And in order to help those who had lost their homes we provided around 30,000 affected families with temporary accommodation.
Just days after Cyclone Sidr, Habib Malik and Shaista Chisty from Islamic Relief travelled to visit the worst affected areas in the south of the country. In extracts from her diary Shaista throws light on the destruction caused by the disaster and Islamic Relief’s work with local communities.
“In the village of Patuakhali, Islamic Relief had set up a medical clinic that was helping up to 250 people a day. A dedicated medical team were working day and night to help the injured. Dr Raqib told us that the common issues at the clinic were diarrhoea, skin diseases, respiratory tract infections and cases of malnutrition.
To provide medical assistance to those affected by the cyclone in Bangladesh we set up emergency health camps which provided care to over 2,700 people.
“Jahid had walked the rough roads for a mile to get to the clinic with her small baby in her arms. The doctor checked her blood pressure and found that it was dangerously low as a result of malnutrition. I wondered how she would walk home or even how she had made it here in the first place. But like the other women at the clinic she had amazing strength which had carried her far.
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