Appeal launches for 'forgotten crises' in Afghanistan
Appeal set up to raise awareness following worst drought in 30 years
Last updated 4th Apr 2022
The UK’s leading Islamic charity has shown its support to the crises in Afghanistan this Ramadan.
Islamic Relief have urged people to not forget the extreme conditions and struggle that people in Afghanistan are facing, as worldwide attention has been focusing on the events in Ukraine.
The appeal was set up with Afghanistan experiencing its worst drought in 30 years with 24.4 million people facing extreme hunger and economic hardship.
Hamzah Adam, one of the leading members of the charity, which has its headquarters in South London, said: “Islamic Relief has been on the ground in Afghanistan for over 20 years.
"We’ve been providing medical aid, emergency assistance, health care medication, water storage facilities, hygiene kits and much more to help the most vulnerable in the country.”
According to the IRC (Islamic Relief Charity), 98% of Afghans are not getting enough food to eat, with 9 million at risk of famine. 3.9 million children are facing severe malnutrition, with over 13 million in desperate need of aid.
Mr Adam continued, “Islamic Relief’s work in Afghanistan is continuous throughout the whole year.
"But this Ramadan it’s more important that we have the support of the people as we try and raise more awareness around the horrific situation in the country.”
Since the start of the humanitarian crisis in August 2021, the IR Afghanistan team has distributed a total of 21,350 food packs in Kabul, Herat, Balkh, Bamyan, Kapisa and Nangarhar provinces.
In February 2022, Islamic Relief distributed 7,472 food packages, 1,700 hygiene kits and 650 goats. 23,113 patients were provided health treatment by 10 health mobile teams in Nangarhar and Balkh provinces.
Umair Hasan, Afghanistan Country Director of Islamic Relief Worldwide, said, “Millions of people in Afghanistan do not know how they will feed their children beyond today. They are doing all they can to survive, but the economy is collapsing.”
Over the next month, IR Afghanistan plan to distribute a further 19,380 food packs (including Ramadan food packs), 2,450 hygiene kits, 4,750 NFI and water storage kits, 1,000 new-born baby kits, 2,000 packs of recreational items, cash distribution to 1,500 referral patients and 10,000 Covid19 infection prevention kits; 10,000 patients will also receive health treatment and 889 goats will be distributed to vulnerable households.
The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) project is under implementation, with key distributions of food, NFI and hygiene kits to be completed within the next 3 weeks. The Afghan banking system remains in chaos with the country facing a major liquidity crisis.
To show your support, visit Islamic Relief’s official website at: Islamic-relief.org.uk where you can make donations to help save a child’s life this Ramadan.