The changing of the seasons can be challenging for all of us, especially the most vulnerable among us. With energy and food prices rocketing, more and more people have been pushed into poverty.
The United Nations has estimated that, since the pandemic, an additional 75 million people may have been pushed into living in extreme poverty by the end of the year. The overall number of people living in extreme poverty could reach 800 million this year.
For these people, winter’s plummeting temperatures and harsh weather means an ever-greater struggle for survival.
A struggle to feed themselves, a struggle to keep warm, a struggle to keep safe, and a struggle to live.
However, there is hope.
By donating to Islamic Relief’s Winter Appeal, you can help people in need across the globe. You can save lives.
Last year, through your generous support, we provided winter kits to more than 435,000 people in 17 countries. Kits contain vital survival items such as warm clothes, blankets, and heaters.This winter, more people than ever before are in desperate need – so Islamic Relief is determined to reach even more individuals. This year we will provide over 72,000 winter kits supporting over 455,000 people in 17 countries.
Please help vulnerable families survive this season: give generously to our Winter Appeal.
This winter, you can be a lifeline for vulnerable families. By giving to our Winter Appeal, you are helping people in 17 countries pushed to the brink of survival. Please donate today.
Life in crisis-stricken Syria is difficult even at the best of times, and the winter season is the worst. Uprooted from their homes, many families are still living in camps scattered across the north, where Islamic Relief continues to provide lifesaving aid throughout the harsh winter months.
Umm Ibrahim and her 5 children are among those living in a camp, with only a tent providing scant protection from the bitter weather.
“After we were displaced from our home, we lived in very difficult conditions,” says the 43-year-old. “Winter is like an annual catastrophe for us due to the torrential rain and snow. Rainwater seeps into my tent.
“One time the water flooded our tent and we had to move into our neighbour’s tent until it dried up. The tent was torn for about 2 years, I had to sew it daily to try to fix it as we cannot afford a new one.” Keeping her children warm is a constant worry for the mother-of-5.
“My children and I feel very cold. We don’t have a breadwinner in our family, so we cannot always turn on the heating. We cannot afford firewood so we go to the nearby mountain to look for a few branches we can use for heating. We have been suffering a lot: we burned some plastic waste for heat and the harmful smoke entered our bodies.”
Thanks to generous Islamic Relief supporters, last winter was warmer for Umm Ibrahim and her children.
“Islamic Relief has provided us with winter heating materials, and thanks to your support we can now turn on heating every day. My children can feel warm and comfortable in this harsh season.
“I hope that you can keep supporting us, we are very happy with the heating materials and we hope that one day we can get a new tent.”
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