“For me Eid-ul-Adha is a wonderful day,” said 48-year-old Minata Diakite. “I wake up early, have breakfast and then go to the mosque to worship.”

“On the way back we pass from house to house giving greetings to our friends and relatives; all the people who support us through the difficult times. During the day we prepare and eat rice, meat and other foods.”

“But there is a food crisis here every year which means we struggle to afford the food we need. This latest food crisis has been going on for five months and it is difficult to find enough food so that we do not starve,” said Minata.

Food shortages

Minata lives with her five children, her grandmother and her mother-in-law in Magnambougou in Mali, a country that experiences regular drought and food shortages. Their house is made from mud and corrugated iron and has no electricity or running water, so they have to collect water from the village well.

“Since the death of my husband I have struggled to feed my children, “said Minata. “They are not well nourished and this is badly affecting their health. The problem is that even though I am the breadwinner, I don’t have a proper source of income and have to rely on other people’s generosity to provide my children with food and education.”

Islamic Relief support

Minata makes a small living by selling goods at the local market. Her youngest son, seven-year-old Ibrahim is also sponsored as part of Islamic Relief’s orphan support programme, which provides the family with enough money to buy food and to afford healthcare.

“The Qurbani packages that Islamic Relief gives us are really important,” said Minata. “Without them we would have to celebrate the day without eating any meat. But thanks to the support of Islamic Relief’s donors we are able to celebrate this special day like other Muslim families.”

Help some of the world’s poorest people celebrate Eid-ul-Adha by paying for your Qurbani today.