Tag: Emergency

Islamic Relief looks back on a year of standing in 2025 with communities suffering through crisis and hardship, with the support of our incredible donors and partners around the world.

Together, we touched an estimated 26.7 million* lives in 2025.

Across 35 countries, our staff and partners helped empower vulnerable communities to lift themselves out of poverty and weather desperate crises.

We delivered 607 projects, including 137 humanitarian aid interventions and 466 development projects.

As we reflect on some of the biggest moments of the year, we are grateful for the continued trust placed in us by the communities we serve and our donors, volunteers and colleagues.

January

The first weeks of the year bring some respite to the desperate crisis in Gaza when, after almost 500 days of relentless bombardment, a ceasefire comes into effect.

Islamic Relief begins expanding our support for vulnerable people in Gaza by working with our partners to provide more emergency relief, and making plans to scale up our response.

Heartbreakingly, the people of Gaza are plunged back into an unrelenting nightmare as Israel ends the ceasefire by resuming bombing and blocking aid.

In Gaza and around the world, Islamic Relief’s Winterisation program is helping families to survive the coldest months. In Bangladesh, we provide blankets, fuel and warm clothing to families in need.

While in Afghanistan, your donations help us bring warmth and hope to the country’s poorest province.

February

With the sighting of the crescent moon, Muslims around the world begin observing the holy month of Ramadan. Our annual Ramadan distribution program reaches more than 844,400 people in 32 countries with food to break their fast and ease their suffering.

March

Yemen marks the grim milestone of a decade of protracted crisis. Over the last 10 years, its people have weathered a brutal war, the worst cholera outbreak in modern history, malnutrition and severe economic decline.

Almost half of the population do not know where their next meal is coming from, and many have lost their livelihoods. Amid chronic desperation, Islamic Relief remains committed to providing lifesaving and life-changing support to Yemenis in need.

April

The crisis in Sudan enters its third year, with no end in sight to the conflict. An Islamic Relief aid worker on the ground writes of his unwavering humanitarian commitment amid a relentless cycle of displacement, hunger and fear.

May

Hunger remains 1 of the world’s most pressing crises, with millions of people around the world unsure where their next meal is coming from. On World Hunger Day, we highlight voices from Sudan, where families are surviving on the brink of starvation.

To alleviate hunger, our annual qurban distribution begins, bringing the joy of Eid and a rare opportunity to eat meat to many families in need around the world.

June

World Environment Day and World Refugee Day bring opportunities to spotlight 2 issues at the heart of Islamic Relief’s campaigns.

We share stories of how boreholes are beating plastic pollution in Somalia. Innovative latrines are restoring comfort and dignity in Bangladesh’s waterlogged villages.

July

Islamic Relief marks 30 years since the Srebrenica Genocide with a major campaign. We share stories of survival and resilience from families still picking up the pieces of their lives.

We also published our 2024 Annual Report, looking back on a year marked by enduring and devastating crises. A year in which we spent more money than ever before to support vulnerable people worldwide.

August

Severe flooding sweeps across large regions of Pakistan, affecting an estimated 6.9 million people. Islamic Relief is on the ground supporting affected families in Punjab within 48 hours. By mid-September, we reached over 100,000 people.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people continue to return to Afghanistan from neighbouring countries each day. They arrive as a part of a mass exodus that has been ongoing since September 2023. From morning until night, Islamic Relief staff work to support the returnees with information, food and water.

September

Islamic Relief launches an emergency appeal as Afghanistan is rocked by powerful earthquakes, which kill thousands and displace thousands more. We provide medical aid and begin distributing tents and meals to people who have lost everything.

October

October brings 2 grim anniversaries as both Gaza and Lebanon mark 2 years of crisis. We launch a campaign to secure sponsorship for the more than 7,000 orphaned children on our waiting list in Gaza as another ceasefire is agreed.

Islamic Relief also launches an appeal to support people affected by the strongest storm to hit Jamaica in modern history. The island was battered by Hurricane Melissa, which left people without homes and parts of the country submerged.

Amid these disasters, Islamic Relief staff also took time to reflect on the past, with an aid worker in Pakistan remembering the deadly Kashmir earthquake 20 years on.

November

Political leaders, civil society organisations and activists from around the world convene in Brazil for COP30. The annual climate summit brings tentative agreements on concrete steps needed to tackle the climate crisis, but many parties remain focused on reacting to short-term challenges, rather than planning for the future.

Islamic Relief launches our annual Winter Appeal to help vulnerable people stay warm during the harshest months. We also publish a new report on how community-led kitchens are saving lives in Sudan.

December

As 2025 draws to a close, Syria marks 1 year since the momentous political change created new opportunities to address the country’s prolonged humanitarian crisis.

Islamic Relief has been working in Syria since 2011, remaining on the ground as the crisis erupted, deepened and stretched on.

In 2025, we continue to work to meet the needs of vulnerable Syrians as the situation on the ground changes. We rebuilt homes, schools and livelihoods to help build a better future.

Devastating flooding sweeps across several Asian countries, affecting more than 1 million people in Indonesia and devastating parts of Thailand and Sri Lanka.

More than 1,000 people are killed and many more left homeless as roads remain impassible and food shortages loom. Islamic Relief begins working with the Indonesian navy to bring supplies to flood-affected areas, and launches a response in Sri Lanka.

We look towards 2026 with renewed vigour and determination to continue to honour your trust in us.

We know that the world’s crises will not end with the calendar year and that the suffering of many of the communities we serve will continue in 2026. The need for our work has never been greater, nor has our gratitude to the donors and partners who make it possible.

Thank you, once more, for your continued support.

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*Editor’s note: Figures are estimates based on projects’ whole duration, and include duplication. For example, one family in Gaza may have received a Ramadan food parcel and a winter survival kit, and so will have been counted twice in estimates.

Islamic Relief will publish our official impact data, which is subject to rigorous scrutiny and audit, in our 2025 Annual Report. The annual report will be published summer 2026.

Around the world, many people struggle to access healthcare. An Islamic Relief project in Yemen is helping to transform lives in a country where the decade-long crisis has put immense strain on the healthcare sector.

Facilities are critically under-resourced, and workers are in short supply thanks to low pay and mass displacement. Yemen has only around 10 healthcare workers per 10,000 people – far below the World Health Organisation’s benchmark of 22 per 10,000. 67 of Yemen’s 333 districts have no doctors at all.

Many health facilities are largely non-functional, with only 50% across the country fully operational. Since the escalation of the crisis in 2015, there have been more than 160 confirmed attacks on healthcare centres. The results of such violence – deaths of staff and destruction of facilities – further lessen the healthcare sector’s ability to meet the needs of Yemenis.

All this combines to exacerbate a health crisis in which vulnerable people, particularly children, are dying from preventable diseases at alarming rates. Malnutrition is also a major issue among children, with nearly 50% of under-fives suffering moderate to severe forms.

A multi-faceted approach to meeting needs

In late 2022, Islamic Relief began supporting four district hospitals in Hodeida and Amran governorates.

The project, which concluded in November 2024, saw Islamic Relief give funding, training, and equipment to the facilities, which provide services including general consultations, surgeries and emergency care.

At the start of the project, we launched a training program for healthcare workers to boost their skills in maternal and newborn care. As part of the training, the 100 participants received monthly incentives to boost retention. Staff also began community outreach programs to raise awareness around health in more remote areas, reaching communities that are typically underserved.

Throughout the project, we monitored local cholera outbreaks, making urgent deliveries of cholera medicine when case numbers rose in 2024.

We also provided furniture, such as desks and cabinets, to professionals working in more remote areas, creating a more comfortable environment for staff and patients. With comfort and safety in mind, we also trucked clean water to facilities and supplied them with cleaning materials.

More and better services for communities in Yemen

The project led to significantly improved community access to healthcare, as well as an improvement in the quality of the care itself.

Evaluations revealed an uptick in the number of people using healthcare services at the facilities we supported, as well as an increase in patient satisfaction with these services.

By the project’s conclusion, more than 268,920 people had received care, and more than 1,979 surgeries had been carried out.

Prior to the project, none of the 4 hospitals involved were able to provide 24/7 care due to differing levels of staff skills. However, after the staff completed training, all 4 facilities were able to deliver around-the-clock care.

This increase has led to reduced mortality and morbidity rates among communities, while testimonials from healthcare workers highlighted improved patient outcomes.

Islamic Relief has been supporting the people of Yemen since 1998. Please help us to continue this vital work.

The Australian Council for International Development and 21 humanitarian agencies are raising alarm at the ongoing catastrophe in Sudan, the largest humanitarian crisis in the world today.

Sudan has been in the grips of a violent civil conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) since April 2023. The United Nations has described Sudan as one of the worst humanitarian crises of the 21st century.  As of November 2025, more than 150,000 people have been killed, and more than 14 million displaced from their homes. 

In October 2025, after over two and a half years of being under siege, the city of El Fasher was taken by the RSF. At the time, over 260,000 civilians were estimated to be trapped in El Fasher. Since then, there has been widespread reporting of violence against civilians, including mass killings, sexual and gender-based violence, and the targeting of children. The UN estimates that almost 71,000 people have been displaced from El Fasher, yet the limited number of civilians arriving at camps for displaced people raises grave concerns regarding the scale of atrocities.    

The signatories below appreciate the Australian Government’s commitment of $60 million to this crisis since April 2023, including the $10 million announced since the recent crisis in El Fasher.

The Sudan Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2025 was developed by the United Nations in response to global funding shortfalls and attempted to reprioritise needs in order to maximise lifesaving assistance to those most vulnerable. However, the Response Plan remains critically underfunded, at just under 28 per cent.

In the face of this tragedy, we call on the Australian Government to:

• Provide an additional $40 million in humanitarian assistance to Sudan, matching the government’s humanitarian support to Sudan in 2023 and 2024 of $50 million.
• Place diplomatic pressure on all state and non-state actors providing military, financial, logistical and other support to the conflicting parties of the crisis to ensure:
  • Humanitarian access to all areas and the safe passage of humanitarian support
  • The protection of humanitarian workers, particularly local staff and volunteers and including through financial support
  • Adherence to international humanitarian law
   
• Contribute to multilateral efforts toward a ceasefire and accountability for perpetrators

ACFID members continue to respond in Sudan and neighbouring countries, providing lifesaving assistance, including water and sanitation, mental health and psychosocial support, emergency food rations and nutrition services, shelter and non-food items, and multi-purpose cash assistance.

 Quotes attributable to Matthew Maury, CEO of ACFID:

“ACFID recognises the significant humanitarian contributions that the Australian Government has made to date in Sudan. But as this crisis continues to escalate and cause devastation, now is the time to do more.”

“Australia should use all existing diplomatic relationships with nations who are uniquely placed in the region to contribute towards peace efforts. The Australian Government should leverage these relationships to bring coordinated pressure on warring Sudanese parties in order to ensure humanitarian access, the protection of humanitarian workers, and to land a peace agreement. It is essential aid workers can safely attend to those most in need, especially in El Fasher.”

“The Australian public can do their part to alleviate the suffering by helping to support the ACFID members who are involved in humanitarian work in Sudan.”

“The Australian humanitarian sector stands in solidarity with the Australian Sudanese diaspora communities and supports their efforts to advocate for an increased response from our government to this devastating conflict.”left in El Fasher or those that choose to flee.”

Islamic Relief has previously warned that civilians in El Fasher must be protected following its capture on 26 October, and allowed safe passage to leave the city if they choose to do so. Aid supplies should be allowed to reach it to alleviate hunger.

More than 2 years into one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent history, Sudan falls deeper into crisis by the day. The fall of El Fasher marks another dark chapter in a conflict that has already claimed countless lives.

Videos, photos, and eyewitness accounts from the city are unbearable to witness; streets lined with lifeless bodies, families trapped without food or shelter, and children facing unimaginable suffering.

Starvation has become one of the conflict’s most devastating weapons. Across the country, families go without food for days at a time. Mothers are forced to watch their children waste away from malnutrition, their cries echoing in homes stripped bare by violence and displacement. 

And yet, the international community continues to look away, with fleeting media coverage, inadequate humanitarian responses, and a lack of political will.

Amid this silence, there remains buried a remarkable story of resilience.

In neighbourhoods across the country, Sudanese communities have built networks of care and survival. At the heart of these efforts are takaaya – community kitchens established and ran by local volunteers who function as frontline responders.

These kitchens are more than just a source of food; they are a symbol of collective resistance, dignity, and hope. Volunteers, often facing hunger and danger themselves, work tirelessly in these kitchens to feed their neighbours with minimal resources, powered largely by contributions from the Sudanese diaspora.

Those funds are running out, however. With so many funding cuts, the future of the takaaya hangs by a thread. Many in Darfur have already been forced to close their doors.

“I want people to know that Sudan is still here. We are not just statistics or headlines. Every person has a name, a story, a life that mattered before this conflict and will matter after. We young Sudanese people aren’t passive, we are very active, we organise, we are part of the volunteers, we try to keep our families going. We don’t want to wait for someone to save us, insha’Allah we will get Sudan back.”

Ibrahim, 24-year-old takaaya volunteer

Takaaya: How community kitchens offer a local lifeline to Sudan’s hunger crisis is a new report by Islamic Relief Worldwide that sheds light on these vital local efforts. It draws on interviews with non-governmental organisation workers, diaspora organisers, and takaaya volunteers from some of the most inaccessible regions of Sudan, including North Kordofan and Darfur. The report reveals the courage and ingenuity sustaining families in the face of starvation and violent conflict.

The message is clear: We must act now. Supporting and funding these community-led kitchens is one tangible way to show our solidarity. Islamic Relief is working in partnership with the takaaya in places such as North Kordofan to support communities that are suffering some of the worst consequences of the crisis. Every takaaya that stays open is another community that lives to see another day. The people of Sudan have not given up, and neither can we.

While we continue to call for action in Sudan, help Islamic Relief to continue supporting people in desperate need in of aid. Donate to our Sudan Emergency Appeal today.

• New report shows the vital role of local Sudanese community kitchens in tackling famine as the world looks away.
• New survey finds 83% of families now don’t have enough food.
• Research and extensive interviews across Sudan find international neglect, supply shortages and volunteer exhaustion mean that many community kitchens face imminent closure without support.
• In places like El Fasher in Darfur, volunteer-run kitchens are the only source of food for families as international aid is cut off.

Community kitchens, which offer lifesaving free food for families across famine-ravaged Sudan, are at risk of collapse after more than two years of brutal war, Islamic Relief warns in a new report published today (6 November). The report calls for urgent international support to keep these kitchens going.

The warning comes as a new survey conducted by Islamic Relief in the east and west of Sudan finds 83% of families now don’t have enough food.

The report shows how the community kitchens – known as takaaya – have been at the forefront of efforts to prevent the spread of famine across the country. Inspired by Islamic faith and community spirit, local volunteers have worked tirelessly to save lives whilst most international governments have neglected the crisis. In places like El Fasher in Darfur, where an 18-month siege has cut off all international aid, the takaaya have been the sole source of food for many families.

Nadeem Malik, Interim Chief Executive of Islamic Relief Worldwide, says: “The war in Sudan has created one of the world’s biggest hunger crises. While the international community has looked away and slashed aid, these volunteer-run community kitchens have provided a lifeline for millions of people. But they are now at risk of collapse. The impact of losing this vital safety net would be catastrophic.”

The report – “Takaaya: How community kitchens offer a lifeline to Sudan’s hunger crisis“ – is based on household surveys and extensive interviews with takaaya volunteers across the country. Many warned their kitchens are at imminent risk of closure due to lack of funds, volunteer exhaustion, and insecurity.

Key findings from the report include:

Out of 585 households surveyed across four localities:

• 83% reported not having sufficient food, whilst only 17% have enough to meet household needs.
• 27% reported having no food stocks remaining, whilst an additional 25% said their food would last less than one week – meaning 52% of households indicated their food supplies would not last beyond one week.
• Over 41% were classified as having a poor food consumption score, with 32% in the borderline category, and only 27% achieving an acceptable score.

Interview with takayya volunteers revealed:

• Some takaaya have already had to close – one volunteer in Khartoum said eight of the 11 kitchens in his areas have shut down this year.
• Even many of the kitchens that remain open have had to reduce meals by 50% or more – from two or three meals a day to once a day.
• Volunteers predict most takaaya will close within six months if funding and support do not increase.

The takaaya draw on centuries-old Sudanese traditions of mutual aid known as nafeer, as well as Islamic principles of charity (sadaqah and zakat). Often based in mosques, homes, or community centres, they operate with transparency and democratic decision-making, providing not just food but also preserving dignity and social cohesion. The cost of a meal provided by takaaya in Khartoum ranges from GB£1.50-£3.38 (US$2 – $4.40), making them highly cost-effective compared to traditional humanitarian aid. They can also operate in areas too dangerous or inaccessible for international agencies.

However, the report warns that without urgent support, these vital networks face collapse due to:

• Financial fragility – most operate day-to-day and rely mostly on cash and food donations from Sudanese diaspora and local community.
• Hyperinflation and market disruptions affecting food and fuel supply.
• Volunteer exhaustion and security risks after more than two years of crisis, with interviewees saying they feel abandoned by the world.
• Limited coordination with, and support from, formal humanitarian actors.
• Lack of predictable or sustained funding – made worse by global aid cuts this year.

The report makes a series of urgent recommendations to scale up and improve international support to the takaaya, including:

• Providing flexible, direct and accessible funding.
• Fostering genuine partnerships that empower rather than co-opt local leadership.
• Recognising community-led responses within humanitarian frameworks.
• Adapting humanitarian aid approaches to better support local responses.

Since the war erupted in April 2023, Islamic Relief has supported more than 1.2 million people with aid, such as food, medical supplies, cash assistance, agricultural support, and mental health support. It works in partnership with takaaya across the country, including in hard-to-reach areas such as Darfur and North Kordofan.

Notes to editors:

• The full report, “Takaaya: How Community Kitchens Offer a Lifeline to Sudan’s Hunger Crisis,” is available here
• The household survey was conducted in September 2025 across 585 households in four localities: Al Fao and Al Fashaga in Gedaref state in eastern Sudan, and Golo and Nertiti in Central Darfur state in western Sudan.
• Interviews with takaaya volunteers were carried out all over the country, including in Khartoum, Omdurman, Kordofan, Darfur and Port Sudan. Some quotes are included below.

Quotes from interviews with takaaya volunteers:

Samir, who manages a Takaaya in Khartoum, told us that eight of the 11 kitchens operating in his area have shut down: “The three that remain, including ours, are hanging by a thread. Last week we averaged about 350-400 meals per day, but six months ago we were serving nearly 600 meals daily. The decrease isn’t because fewer people need food; it’s because we don’t have enough resources to serve everyone who comes. We’re rationing what we have just to keep operating. I don’t know if we will last six more months.”

Anwar told us that there isn’t enough food for everyone who needs it: “We had to tell a mother at the end of the day that we had nothing left for her two children and that she should come back tomorrow early. She didn’t even cry, she just looked deflated. I went home and I couldn’t speak to my own family that night. The shame of having food in my stomach when that child did not, it is a heavy feeling for me.” 

Nasreen, a teacher, told Islamic Relief that she started volunteering after seeing her pupils go hungry: “It became personal when I saw my own students coming to school too weak to hold a pencil. One of my brightest students was always eager to learn, then she started falling asleep. I asked her what was wrong and she told me that she hasn’t eaten properly in days. I love that the Takaaya is teaching them that even in the darkest times, we take care of each other. That lesson will stay with them long after this crisis ends.”

Interviewees said that global aid cuts in 2025, especially the collapse of USAID, has had a huge impact. One said: “(The USAID cut) was like someone cut a rope we were holding onto. In the last month there were 10 days where we went to sleep not knowing if we could cook the next day.”

After two years of war and extreme suffering many volunteers say they feel increasingly exhausted and abandoned by the world. One said: “Emotionally it’s draining. Some evenings I go home and I can’t eat. My wife will prepare dinner and I’ll just stare at it, thinking about the families who didn’t get a meal that day. My children notice—they ask why I’m quiet, why I look sad. I try to explain, but how do you tell your 10-year-old that you had to tell other children to go home hungry?”

Many interviewees said the shortage of fuel is as serious as shortage of funds. One told us: “The biggest problem now isn’t even the food, it’s the fuel. To cook for 400 people, you need a lot of fire. Cooking gas is like gold. The volunteers spend hours searching for firewood.”

Another said: “A sack of charcoal that cost 3,000 Sudanese pounds before the war now costs 18-20,000 pounds, if you can find it. We send volunteers to search for firewood but it’s dangerous. Some areas are controlled by armed groups and we’ve had volunteers threatened.”

Humanitarian aid deliveries must be allowed to reach North Darfur’s El Fasher as famine is confirmed to be present there for a second time, and 96% of Sudanese residents in the city are going to bed hungry, Islamic Relief warns.

The warning comes amid news from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) that famine is expected to persist in El Fasher and Kadugli towns through January 2026 after having been previously announced there by the world’s leading food monitor. 20 other locations are also at risk.

Elsadig Elnour, country director at Islamic Relief Sudan, commenting on the IPC report, said:

“This IPC report confirms what we already know. That this siege of El Fasher has been a disaster for the civilians there. Hundreds of thousands of El Fasher residents have been besieged for 18 months, attacked and killed, and now we learn from this report that 96 percent of them are going to bed hungry and famine is confirmed there. This is a horror show happening before the eyes of the international community.”

“Islamic Relief is calling for the warring factions to ensue unrestricted aid access and safe passage to El Fasher and Kadugli. They must allow agencies to help end the famine which these sieges created. We continue to call for guarantees of safety for civilians left in El Fasher or those that choose flee.”

Islamic Relief has previously warned that civilians in El Fasher must be protected following its capture on 26 October, and allowed safe passage to leave the city if they choose to do so. Aid supplies should be allowed to reach it to alleviate hunger.

Humanitarian and civilian protection organisations are sounding the alarm over credible reports of massacres unfolding in and around El Fasher, North Darfur, where civilians are being killed, starved, and terrorised as fighting reaches catastrophic levels. Without immediate action, tens of thousands of people could die within days from violence, hunger, and the continued denial of humanitarian access.

For months, relentless shelling and ground assaults have devastated El Fasher, with civilians trapped between frontlines. Entire neighbourhoods have been razed, homes burned, and bodies lie unburied in the streets. Eventually, on 27 October, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) seized control of the city. Witnesses describe scenes of horror – people killed as they flee, the wounded left to die, and children crying beside the corpses of their parents.

“Over the last 72 hours, we have received multiple credible reports of attacks on civilians in their homes and public places, in hospitals and on roadsides in their attempt to flee to Tawila and other places. These attacks – on civilians, medical staff and other providers of life-saving support, and civilian infrastructure – must stop with immediate effect,” said Peter Burgess, Head of the InterAgency Working Group.

Death Along the Roads to Safety

Civilians attempting to flee toward Tawila and nearby villages are facing systematic extortion, abductions, sexual violence and executions at checkpoints. IDPs in Tawila reported bodies every ten metres along the route between El Fasher and Tawila; many of those arriving in Tawila are elderly, injured, or severely malnourished, and some die on arrival.

More than 400,000 displaced people were already sheltering in Tawila before the fall of El Fasher.
Now, those who do manage to leave El Fasher and reach Tawila find limited food, medicine, or shelter. Children are arriving alone, separated from their families, some suffering from shock and visible starvation. Host communities are overwhelmed, and humanitarian agencies barely have the ability to meet half of the current population’s most basic needs.

Collapse of Humanitarian Access

Humanitarian access to El Fasher has collapsed entirely, and the safety of those civilians still trapped in the city is a major concern. Local aid workers are operating under fire, with communications cut and convoys blocked by siege tactics. Families are dying from hunger and dehydration inside the city, unable to flee, while aid agencies are unable to reach them. The situation constitutes a complete humanitarian blackout in violation of international humanitarian law.

A Call for Urgent and Decisive Action

Humanitarian and protection organisations call on governments, regional bodies, and the United Nations Security Council to act now to prevent further atrocities:

1. Demand an immediate cessation of attacks on civilians, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances and summary executions.
2. Insist on the safe and reliable evacuation of civilians and unhindered access for those providing life-saving humanitarian assistance.
3. Ensure the protection of civilians, humanitarian and medical workers and civilian infrastructure, including hospitals and water/energy utilities, which are all protected under International Humanitarian Law
4. Deploy urgent humanitarian assistance and evacuation operations along displacement routes to reach those stranded between El Fasher and Tawila, providing food, water, medical care, and protection.
5. Support local responders and community-based protection networks who continue to risk their lives to save others.
6. Condemn, in the strongest possible terms, the deliberate targeting of civilians, including extrajudicial killings, ethnic-based detentions, and sexual violence, and ensure accountability for these crimes.
7. Use all diplomatic and economic leverage on external actors fuelling the conflict to halt arms transfers and financial support to warring parties.

The Inter-Agency Working Group is a consortium of NGOs with regional presence and programs across Eastern and Central Africa. They working to strengthen humanitarian and sustainable development outcomes across the region, through enhanced coordination, advocacy, technical expertise and active challenging of the broader aid community.

Time is running out to protect civilians in the Darfur city of El Fasher, where there are horrific reports of mass killings and suffering as fighting has intensified over the past few days.  

The humanitarian situation in the city is now catastrophic, as civilians have endured an 18-month siege that has cut off all aid. Homes, hospitals, schools and mosques have been repeatedly bombed. Many families in the city are now starving as supplies of food and medicine have run out, but humanitarian aid continues to be blocked. Local community kitchens and mutual aid groups have become the only lifeline for many families, but they are increasingly short of funds and face extreme risks.

Tens of thousands of people have reportedly managed to flee the city, but many escape routes have been cut off and up to 250,000 more people remain trapped there and scared for their lives.

Islamic Relief Worldwide is calling on the international community to increase pressure for an immediate ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access into the city, and safe and dignified passage out of the city for all civilians who wish to leave.

As more people risk their lives to try and escape, Islamic Relief aid workers in central Darfur are preparing for an anticipated influx of families. In recent months Islamic Relief’s health and nutrition clinics in central Darfur have received hundreds of families who are on the verge of starvation after managing to escape El Fasher and its surrounding camps. Many arrived in a desperately malnourished state after walking for many days to try and reach some level of safety, and have reported horrifying accounts of bombing and looting along the route.

Shihab Mohamed Ali, Islamic Relief’s senior program manager, said:

“We expect significant numbers of displaced people fleeing El Fasher to arrive at our clinics in the coming days. El Fasher is a terrifying place for civilians right now. Some of our team members have relatives there but communication is down and they said they haven’t heard from them for the past three days. At the moment civilians do not have safe routes to escape the city, but the situation there is alarming so many people are trying to get out any way they can, whether in the middle of the night or by paying bribes they cannot afford. We are calling for civilians to be protected and for humanitarian aid to be allowed to reach people.”

In Central Darfur, Islamic Relief operates 12 nutrition centres, 10 primary healthcare centres and 2 mobile health clinics, which reach the most remote areas in the mountainous Jebal Marra region. Across Sudan, Islamic Relief has delivered aid to 1.2 million people since the war broke out in April 2023.

Monday 22 September 2025 — As world leaders gather in New York for the 80th UN General Assembly, we, the undersigned humanitarian organisations working in Yemen, urge urgent and decisive action to address the worsening crisis in Yemen threatening to push millions of families past the brink of catastrophe. Yemen’s crisis has stripped people down to the most basic of needs, making every day a struggle for survival.

Today, over 17 million people are facing hunger, with at least 41,000 of them being at risk of experiencing catastrophic levels of hunger – the toll on children being alarmingly staggering. At least 2.4 million children under five are suffering from acute malnutrition, including hundreds of thousands at risk of severe acute malnutrition – a life-threatening condition without immediate treatment. Tragically, based on known records, at least two children have already lost their lives to malnutrition in recent months.

These figures are far from static — hunger and malnutrition are projected to worsen sharply in the coming months as aid cuts, disease outbreaks, and economic decline continue to erode families’ ability to cope. In one out of five households, someone goes a full day and night without any food at all. This includes children going to bed hungry, while parents are skipping meals so their little ones can have whatever little is available, leaving them feeling helpless as their children grow ill and severely weak. Without urgent action in the remaining months of 2025, vulnerable areas in Yemen will likely plunge into famine.

In recent weeks, flash floods have torn through parts of Yemen, killing and injuring 157 people, destroying shelters, and washing away arable lands, which threatens livelihoods and risks worsening hunger. More than 50,600 families, many of whom are internally displaced, have now lost their homes and sources of income to the floods.¹

Damaged water and sanitation infrastructure – already fragile as a result of the conflict, coupled with limited access to healthcare, continue to fuel the spread of the diseases. As of the end of July, over 58,000 suspected cases of cholera and acute watery diarrhoea, with 163 associated deaths, have been reported – making Yemen one of the worst-affected countries in the world². In addition, reports of dengue fever cases indicate a concerning rise compared to 2024 figures. Epidemiological surveillance and response efforts are further hampered by the lack of funding, meaning the true scale of the outbreak is likely far higher than the reported figures. Women and girls continue to be disproportionately impacted.

This situation is forcing vulnerable and marginalised families and communities to adopt negative coping mechanisms such as early marriages, taking children out of school and child labour. Together with a reduction in services, the adoption of such strategies has long-term implications for the future generations of Yemen.

The regional tensions continue to spill over into Yemen, destabilising the country and further worsening the humanitarian situation. Attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure remain widespread, with over 880 civilian casualties reported so far in 2025,³ alongside extensive damage to critical infrastructure.

Aid workers – the lifeline for millions – face constant threats. The recent round of detention targeting UN staff members, along with previous detentions of humanitarian staff since June 2024 and prior, has escalated risks and deeply obstructed lifesaving assistance.

The 2025 Yemen Humanitarian Response Plan is severely underfunded, standing at only 18 per cent as of early September – the lowest level of funding for the country’s appeal in a decade. Out of the 19.5 million people in need, the appeal was already only intended to assist 10.5 million,⁴ but current funding levels mean that even the vast majority of those will be left without planned assistance. The situation has forced humanitarian actors to make impossible choices, often described as taking food from the hungry to feed the starving.

Despite the immense challenges, hope remains as aid organisations continue reaching 3.7 million people each month – constituting less than 35 per cent of those targeted – with food, water, healthcare, protection, shelter, and cash assistance⁵. This demonstrates our commitment and ability to deliver aid where it is needed. We stand ready to reach far more people in crisis and to support the people in Yemen to recover and rebuild their lives, if funding is scaled up to meet the immense needs.

Yemen is at a breaking point. The international community must act decisively:

• Scale up humanitarian funding: Donor governments must urgently provide sufficient resources to ensure that food, health, water, and protection programs continue without interruption for those in need.
• Centrality of protection is ensured in all interventions, with adequate funding for protection-related services.
• Link humanitarian aid with resilience and development: Donor governments and policymakers must ensure that immediate relief is paired with efforts to strengthen livelihoods, services, and recovery systems, laying the groundwork for long-term development and breaking Yemen’s cycle of recurring needs.
• Protect civilians and civilian infrastructure: Member states should call for all parties to respect international humanitarian law, refrain from attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. Civilians are not a target.
• Use diplomatic leverage to protect aid workers: Member states and regional actors should press for the immediate release of detained aid workers and advocate for unhindered movement of humanitarian personnel and supplies.
• Reinforce commitment to peace: Member states should sustain diplomatic efforts to support the UN peace process and ensure Yemen is not forgotten as global and regional agendas compete for attention.

Yemen’s people cannot endure further suffering. The time to act for Yemen is now. Urgent, coordinated action at UNGA 80 is essential to save lives and prevent a deeper humanitarian catastrophe.

Signed by:

• Action Contre la Faim (ACF)
• Action for Humanity International
• ADRA
• Al Khair Women Association
• AlMamoon Foundation for Development
• Arab-European Center for Human Rights and International Law (Oslo) CARE
• Caritas Poland in Yemen
• CIVIC
• Concern Worldwide
• Danish Refugee Council (DRC)
• Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe
• Dorcas
• Enqath Foundation for Development EFD
• FARHM Network for Development and Peace
• Field Medical Foundation (FMF)
• Geneva Call
• Handicap International – Humanity & Inclusion
• Helpcode
• Humanitarian Aid and Development Organization (HAD)
• International Medical Corps
• International Rescue Committee (IRC)
• INTERSOS
• Islamic Help UK
• Islamic Relief Worldwide
• Light Foundation for Development
• Medglobal Yemen
• Mercy Corps
• Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC)
• NPA OXFAM
• Polish Humanitarian Action
• Première Urgence Internationale (PUI)
• Rafd Al-amajad Foundation for Development
• READ Foundation UK – Yemen (RFY)
• Relief International (RI)
• Saferworld
• Save the Children
• Secours Islamique France (SIF)
• Social Development – Hodeidah Girls Foundation
• Super Novae
• Triangle Generation Humanitaire
• Union of Social Charitable and Developmental Associations and Foundations
• War Child Alliance
• Wings of Peace Charitable Foundation for Development and Humanitarian Response

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¹ OCHA Report on Yemen: Heavy Rains and Flooding, Situation Update No. 01

Yemen: Heavy Rains and Flooding, Situation Update No. 01 – Yemen | ReliefWeb

² WHO, Multi-country outbreak of cholera, external situation report #29 -28 August 2025 , https://www.who.int/publications/m/item/multi-country-outbreak-of-cholera–external-situation-report–29–28-august-2025?utm

³According to the Civilian Impact Monitoring Project

⁴ OCHA, Yemen Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan 2025 (January 2025) [EN/AR], 15 January 2025
https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/yemen-humanitarian-needs-and-response-plan-2025-january-2025-enar

5 OCHA, 68 aid organisations in Yemen call for solidarity and urgent action on World Humanitarian Day, 19 August 2025, https://reliefweb.int/report/yemen/68-aid-organizations-yemen-call-solidarity-and-urgent-action-world-humanitarian-day-enar

Nada Abu Taleb has documented Yemen’s silent suffering as Islamic Relief’s Media and Communication Coordinator in the country. Now, she reveals what humanitarian work truly means in one of the world’s most neglected crises. 

World Humanitarian Day is a moment to pause, reflect, and remember why we choose to stand together amid crises. After nearly 15 years of humanitarian work, I have learned that to #ActForHumanity is not simply a theme; it’s a daily commitment, deeply personal and urgent, especially here in Yemen. 

As a Yemeni who has lived and worked through this crisis, I know that suffering is not a distant headline; it confronts us every day. I see it in the strained expressions of my neighbours, hear it in the despair of families struggling to survive. But amid these painful encounters are moments of profound dignity that stay etched in memory. 

I recall a mother who had just received a modest cash assistance package. Her hands held her child tightly. They were visibly malnourished, yet her eyes expressed overwhelming gratitude rather than complaint. In that moment, aid became about more than food or money; it became about dignity, it became about making people feel seen and valued. 

Another defining moment was my encounter with a displaced father living in a makeshift shelter after losing nearly everything: his home, livelihood, and even family members. Despite his burden, his greatest concern was maintaining his children’s sense of normality. “Even when we have nothing,” he said quietly, “I still make sure my children feel safe, clean, and believe things will get better.” This humble, steadfast courage reshaped my understanding of dignity. Humanitarian work is not merely about distributing aid; it’s about honouring people’s resilience, acknowledging their identity, and protecting the fragile sense of hope they still hold. 

Education: Yemen’s silent crisis 

While the world rightly recognises and responds to immediate crises like hunger and the need for shelter, Yemen’s overlooked crisis is the systematic erosion of our education system. Schools are emptying, teachers haven’t been paid, and children’s dreams are fading. I remember a classroom without doors or windows, children huddled together sharing torn notebooks. When asked about his dreams, one boy replied earnestly, “I want to be a pilot, but I don’t know if I will ever fly a plane. We can barely eat.” 

This stark realisation hit me deeply. Education is not a luxury, it’s the promise of a future. Without schooling, children lose more than knowledge; they lose structure, security, and the ability to envision a better tomorrow. Protecting education is protecting hope itself, yet this urgent truth rarely makes international headlines. That’s why Islamic Relief teams in Yemen are working to rebuild classrooms, train teachers, and create safe learning spaces in some of the hardest-hit communities. 

Finding strength in small acts 

Humanitarian workers frequently grapple with overwhelming despair. I recall one particularly difficult day, consumed by endless stories of families skipping meals, children leaving school, communities crushed by hardship. The scale of suffering was paralysing. 

But what pulled me back was the quiet joy of Eid celebrations. Families smiling because their children had new clothes, or because, for the first time in months, they had meat on their table. I remembered a father weeping quietly with relief as he watched his daughters recover from malnutrition, their laughter a testament to a small triumph. These moments of humanity remind me why this work matters, small gestures can reverberate deeply, sustaining hope amid despair. 

Innovating amid challenges 

The complexity of Yemen’s crisis, which is marked by checkpoints, instability, and dwindling funds, often hampers our physical presence in affected communities. Our office responds creatively, training colleagues in remote areas in photography and storytelling so the voices of the communities we support can be heard. This initiative ensures we can document, communicate, and respond swiftly, preserving transparency and maintaining critical connections even amid logistical nightmares. This adaptive resilience underscores the resourcefulness required to deliver impartial and dignified humanitarian assistance under seemingly impossible circumstances. 

Women’s silent strength 

Throughout this crisis, I have come to see my fellow Yemeni women quietly shoulder extraordinary burdens. Their courage often lies not in grand gestures but in daily persistence despite exhaustion, fear, or loss. Witnessing their quiet determination consistently reshapes my understanding of what true bravery looks like.  

But some of their strength also comes from Yemen’s extraordinary community solidarity. Where official systems fail, neighbours have stepped forward, sharing limited resources, organising responses, and ensuring no one is abandoned. This local strength profoundly shapes our humanitarian approach, reminding us that true assistance is collaborative, respectful, and humble. Our role is not to lead from above, but to support and amplify the resilience already thriving on the ground. 

The world’s shared responsibility 

Today, when global attention feels overstretched and crises rage everywhere, from Gaza to Sudan, solidarity is not a limited resource; it’s our shared responsibility. Acting for humanity means refusing to normalise suffering, no matter how frequent it becomes. It requires compassion, dignity, and fairness, consistently and urgently, even when no one is watching. 

Yemen is often misunderstood, painted simplistically as a land of endless conflict and helplessness. In reality, Yemenis are remarkably spirited and resourceful. Our task as humanitarian workers is not to save them, but to stand beside them, preserving dignity, amplifying their voices, and working towards sustainable recovery. 

On World Humanitarian Day, let us remember that behind every statistic, there’s a person with a story to tell. That is my job as a communicator. To act for humanity is to remain present, compassionate, and brave, even in the face of immense challenges. This work is not just our choice, but our collective answer to a world that desperately needs humanitarians. May our actions always reflect that calling. 

Families in Yemen are fighting for survival every day. With your support, Islamic Relief can deliver life-saving aid to those who need it most. Your donation can help provide food, medicine, and hope to vulnerable communities. Please donate to our Yemen Emergency Appeal today.