Annual Report & Financial Statements 2007
Islamic Relief Worldwide & Subsidiary Undertakings
RAMADHAN AND QURBANI 
Twice a year during the fasting month of Ramadan and the religious festival of Eid al Adha, we distribute food parcels and meat to those suffering from food shortages. Those who receive the Ramadan and Qurbani packages are amongst the most vulnerable in their communities, including orphans, widows, the elderly and refugees. Often the distribution of these food packages is carried out in conjunction with other relief and development programmes and provide a supplement to our longerterm, sustainable work to alleviate poverty.
In 2007 we distributed over 146,000 Ramadan food packs in 23 countries from Bangladesh to Sudan. This benefitted over 730,000 people, providing them with food that is culturally acceptable to each country. In December 2007 we distributed fresh, canned and frozen Qurbani meat to almost two million people. Most countries receive fresh Qurbani meat – sheep, cow, buffalo or goat depending on cultural preference – but some countries such as Iraq are provided with canned Qurbani meat.
Ramadan in Egypt
In 2007 we distributed over 4,100 Ramadan food parcels to more than 20,500 people in Egypt.
Reda Muhammad, 45, lives with her husband who is disabled and her six children in Giza, Egypt. ‘Life is the same, whether it is Ramadan or any other month. Nothing changes,’ explained Reda. ‘We are not like those people who go shopping for Ramadan food, buying chicken, meat, nuts or fruit. We can hardly afford the basics.’
‘I struggle to find food for my family,’ she said. ‘I do not have the money that can ensure that my children go to sleep at night with a full tummy. The first thing that comes to mind every morning is if my family will starve this week or if we will make it through.’
‘We do not have land to grow vegetables or a farm to raise chickens. All I have is my husband’s pension,’ Reda explained. ‘When I fell sick I had to buy medication and there was no money left for food. We spent three weeks living on bread and tea.’
‘The main breadwinner in our family is my eldest son. However, the problem is that his job is not stable, he is a labourer and sometimes he has work, sometimes he does not. Then we do not have enough money to survive the rest of the month.’
‘But my husband is so sick and can hardly move, and his pension does not cover does not cover the cost of his medication,’ Reda said. ‘Sometimes I make falafel and sell them, and sometimes we get help from our relatives. But there is always this sweeping feeling of insecurity and need.’
‘The Ramadan packages really help. When you have food shortages throughout the whole year but in Ramadan you have a packet that provides you with your basic needs: it makes a difference,’ she explained. ‘It will make my children very happy, as they feel that they are fasting throughout the whole year.’
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