 I have recently come back from Sudan where I visited several Islamic Relief projects in some of the poorest regions on earth. All across northern Africa, there are many hum anitarian tragedies in places like Darfur and Chad, Niger, Mali, Ethiopia a nd Somalia. Drought, conflict and community tensions conspire to keep millions condemned to poverty. I want to tell you about just one of these regions in particular… the border area between Chad and Darfur in West Sudan. Sadly, I have some bad news… but I also have some news which offers hope! Firstly, the bad news:
| I visited Darfur and saw for myself how, right now, a whole region is caught up in a relentless cycle of poverty, violence and suffering: • tens of thousands have lost their lives in communal confl ict • around 2 million have been displaced, losing homes and livelihoods |
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And the conflict is spilling over into neighbouring Chad, a country already gripped by drought and poverty. It is hard to explain why all this is happening … but what is clear, painfully clear, is that ordinary people, people like you and I, are suffering terribly.
I spoke to many more people mostly women and children. Each wants to return home but because of the confl ict, how can they? How can they rebuild? How can they plan for the future?
So, what can WE do? Why am I sharing this with you?
We CAN do something! Islamic Relief IS making a difference…. our relief & development programmes in various parts of Africa are bringing aid to hundreds of thousands of people.
| In Darfur, for example, Islamic Relief is, amongst other projects; • running the Kerinding 2 refugee camp in Al Geneina supporting over 10,000 people • distributing blankets, bed sheets, clothes, plastic sheets, mats and hygiene kits • drilling boreholes throughout the region to provide much needed water wells • ensuring health care for the camp and the local townsfolk |
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Moreover, our office in Niger is working with 35 community clinics to provide nutritional support and healthcare for malnourished children. However, there are millions more still in need.
In Somalia, Islamic Relief is planning to assist 120,000 people who are suffering as a result of recent floods and internal confl icts.
In Chad, Islamic Relief has just set up a country office and our staff are gearing up right now to implement emergency relief projects to help those affected by the regional unrest.
As Zainab, the girl from Darfur, confided in me:
| “I am so relieved that Islamic Relief is here, doing what it can to improve our lives in the camp. Now I wait… and I am determined to get through this and become a doctor… I want to stop others from suffering the way we have.” |
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Back from Sudan, I feel frustration and sadness over the plight endured by so many. But I am also filled with admiration for the way they are facing their uncertain future with such indomitable courage.
And I was inspired by the selfless dedication of IR’s field staff, such as Nermin Silajdzic, our Bosnian coordinator of Kerinding 2 Camp in Darfur. Using the leadership and logistical skills he developed from our relief programmes in Bosnia, he has spent the last 11 months away from his family …simply because he feels these people in northern Africa need him more!
Can you please help us not to let the people of northern Africa be forgotten?
It’s easy to make a difference:
£1 is enough to feed a family of six for one day
£20 provides a family with a water container, plastic sheeting, cooking utensils and 2 blankets
£250 will provide 15 families with water & sanitation facilities
£3400 will provide safe drinking water for 2400 people
Let us be inspired by the blessed words of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): “The best of you is he (or she) who brings most benefi t to others.” Please do your best to help us to maintain these life-lines to some of Africa’s most forgotten people.
Yours sincerely
Muhammad Imran
Islamic Relief UK
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