Tag: Take Action

In just the first half of 2025, your generosity changed millions of lives. Because you’ve helped Islamic Relief respond effectively to eight major emergencies across the globe.

From deadly floods and earthquakes to conflict and forced displacement, your kindness ensured that vulnerable communities received urgent assistance when they needed it most.

Thanks to our Emergency Fund and the commitment of donors like you, we were able to act without delay, delivering life-saving aid to families facing some of the harshest conditions on earth.

8 Emergencies. 8 Countries. One Global Response. 

Between January and June 2025, Islamic Relief responded to critical humanitarian crises in: 

• Mali – Floods 
• Nigeria – Conflict 
• Democratic Republic of Congo – Floods 
• Ethiopia – Earthquake 
• Afghanistan – Forced Repatriations 
• Pakistan – Conflict 
• Myanmar – Earthquake 
• Indonesia – Floods

These emergencies spanned multiple regions, but they all shared one thing in common: communities in urgent need of help. With your support, we were able to reach them swiftly and with care. 

What Your Donations Helped Deliver 

Your contributions made it possible for Islamic Relief teams and partners to provide:

• Life-saving medical supplies 
• Emergency food assistance 
• Shelter and protection for displaced families 
• Support to maintain dignity and safety for the most vulnerable

Whether we were distributing hygiene kits in Myanmar, food packs in Afghanistan, or emergency tents in Ethiopia, your donations were at the heart of every action we took. 

A Coordinated, Timely Emergency Response 

Islamic Relief’s global emergency system ensures that when disaster strikes, we’re ready. In the first six months of 2025: 

• 75% of emergency panel meetings were held within one day of receiving the alert. 
• 37.5% of emergency alerts were raised within just 72 hours of the crisis occurring. 
• £575,000 (approx. $1.1 million AUD) was allocated to these eight emergency responses. 
• 78.3% of these funds were used in countries where Islamic Relief already operates, enabling rapid mobilisation. 
• 21.7% supported efforts in countries without an existing IR presence through trusted, local partners.

This coordination is only possible because of the Emergency Fund. It allows us to act immediately, without waiting for donations to be raised after the disaster has already happened. 

A Closer Look: Impact in the Field 

In Afghanistan, thousands of families faced forced repatriation. There, we provided essential aid, including food parcels, hygiene kits, and warm clothing for children. 

In Myanmar and Ethiopia, earthquakes destroyed homes and infrastructure. Our teams moved quickly to deliver temporary shelters, clean water, and medical supplies to those affected. 

In Mali, DRC, and Indonesia, destructive floods displaced entire communities. Your support enabled us to distribute vital food, clean water, and emergency kits to help families survive and recover. 

And in Pakistan and Nigeria, where conflict continues to uproot lives, your donations helped provide safety, protection, and dignity to those caught in crisis. 

Why the Emergency Fund Matters 

Emergencies strike without warning. When they do, every hour matters. 

Our Emergency Fund is what makes rapid response possible. Rather than waiting to raise funds after a disaster hits, we’re able to respond immediately, getting aid to where it’s needed within days, not weeks. 

Your support of this fund means that families impacted by floods, earthquakes, or conflict don’t have to wait for food, shelter, or medical care. It means relief can reach them immediately when they need it most. 

Looking Ahead: A Call for Continued Support 

The first six months of 2025 were a stark reminder of how quickly lives can be turned upside down. But it was also a testament to what we can achieve together. 

Thanks to you, we were able to help thousands of people in their darkest moments. But the need hasn’t ended. New emergencies continue to emerge, and Islamic Relief must be ready. 

By donating to our Emergency Fund today, you ensure we can respond rapidly to the next crisis, whenever and wherever it occurs. 

As we bid farewell to Ramadan, we look back on a month of faith and generosity, when the spirit of giving brings hope to those facing hardship. 

This Ramadan, your generous donations helped Islamic Relief distribute over 200,300 food packs, reaching over 1,300,371 people in need in 33 countries around the world*. An estimated 19,407 Zakat al-Fitr packs have also been delivered, supporting 102,315 people*.

And as Eid al-Fitr comes and goes here in Australia, our Eid gift distributions are ongoing for vulnerable children around the world, with over 60,000 children receiving gifts*.

From conflict zones to areas affected by natural disasters, our teams have worked tirelessly to ensure that families in crisis get the help they need this Ramadan. Together, we helped families break their fasts with dignity and mark this blessed month.

Here’s a snapshot of some of our distributions around the world.

Indonesia

In the West Java province in Indonesia, your donations helped us give 82-year-old Suartinah, her three children, and her 10-year-old grandson, a food pack filled with staple ingredients to prepare nutritious meals during Ramadan.

Living on a limited daily budget, the elderly widow struggles to afford basic essentials like water, electricity and household necessities, often relying on support from her children.

Receiving Ramadan packages like this helps me sustain myself for the future. This support gives me a sense of security, knowing that I have something to rely on during difficult times.

Palestine

In Gaza’s Zeitoun neighborhood, 36-year-old Ahmed, his wife, and their three young sons have been displaced multiple times after losing their home and livelihood in an airstrike. 

Now living in a crowded shelter, the family struggles with extreme food shortages, and Ahmed’s eldest son, Yusuf, suffers from severe malnutrition. With no income and soaring prices, Ahmed even risked his life trying to obtain a bag of flour to feed his children once. 

Islamic Relief’s Ramadan food basket provided much-needed relief, ensuring families had essential food for iftar and suhoor. This support helped ease their suffering during a time of immense hardship.

Yemen

As Yemen marks 10 years of war, our teams on the ground have reported that cases of malnutrition among children are increasing in remote rural districts of Yemen.

Your generous donations meant that families in need didn’t have to face another Ramadan worrying about their next meal.

Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh

In Bhasan Char, Bangladesh, 43-year-old fisherman Nur lives with his family of 12. “Since our arrival in Bangladesh, we have been dependent on aid and support,” he explains.

“With limited opportunities to earn a living, I sometimes go fishing in the canal and along the seashore, hoping to catch some fish.” Despite these efforts, the family’s survival relies on humanitarian assistance. 

The Ramadan food packs from Islamic Relief this year were a lifeline for Nur. 

“These packages help us prepare proper meals for Iftar, making it easier to observe fasting despite the challenges we face,” he says.

For many families, including mine, these food distributions bring relief. Without them, it would be difficult to have enough food during this holy month.

Nur is grateful, saying it “brought us relief and strengthened our faith, knowing that we were not alone in our struggles”.

Albania

For thousands of families in Albania, particularly those in rural areas and mountainous regions, poverty is a daily reality. 

With poor access to clean water, sanitation, health, and education, these families are struggling to build brighter, more stable futures.

Your generous donations helped provide families in need with vital food packs containing oil, rice, sugar, pasta, beans, dates, bulgur wheat, tomato sauce, and other essential items.

Afghanistan

Gul Bibi, an elderly woman in Kabul, Afghanistan, received cash for food assistance this month. For families in need like hers, your support means everything.

As a needy family, we did not have enough food for Ramadan. Sometimes, we had food, but other times, we did not. This support and kindness means so much to us. Thank you so much. May Allah reward you in this world and the Akhirah. Thank you so much for supporting us.

Malawi

Around 70.1% of people in Malawi are living on less than $2.15 per day.

The nation heavily depends on agriculture, making it vulnerable to climate change impacts. Climate-induced disasters, such as Cyclone Freddy in 2023, have exacerbated food insecurity and caused widespread crop failures, threatening the livelihoods of millions.

To ease the burden of those struggling to find food for iftar, we provided vital food packs to people in need.

Displaced Refugees

46-year-old Umm Mahmoud lives with her six children as refugees after being displaced due to war. 

After her husband was separated from her and she became deaf from a bombing. She struggled to support her children, especially during Ramadan. “I couldn’t afford to provide food for my children or buy them new clothes for Eid. They longed for Eid outfits or even a special meal, but I couldn’t give them that.”

Your support for our Orphan Sponsorship Program, which also helps refugees, brought relief to Umm Mahmoud during this blessed month.

I was overwhelmed with joy when [Islamic Relief] told me they would sponsor my children and provide financial support. Finally, I could afford to buy food, clothes, and household necessities, and ensure my children could continue their education.

Sudan

As Sudan prepares to mark two years of war this April, our Eid gift distributions brought hope to children living in dire conditions.

More than 3.7 million children are now reported to be acutely malnourished and many families are eating just a few mouthfuls of sorghum a day.

Your Eid gifts brought hope to vulnerable children and orphans suffering through things no child should have to endure.

Spreading the Ramadan joy

Thanks to your generosity, Islamic Relief has been able to support families in need across the world this Ramadan. While these distributions have provided much-needed relief, the reality is that for millions, the struggle against hunger does not end in Ramadan.

We remain committed to serving vulnerable communities, working towards a future where no one has to worry about their next meal. With your continued support, we can build on this impact and reach even more people in need.

May Allah accept your kindness and bring ease to those facing hardship, Ameen!

*Please note the figures mentioned in this report are currently estimates. As our Ramadan program is still ongoing, the final report with exact figures will be available in the coming months.

Since late November 2024, severe flooding from the Niger River has devastated parts of Timbuktu and Mopti of Mali. It is displacing thousands, destroying infrastructure, and disrupting essential services.  

With over 6,700 households affected, communities face urgent needs for food, shelter, and healthcare. Islamic Relief Mali launched an emergency response to provide immediate relief and support long-term recovery. However, more aid is critical to address this escalating crisis. 

The Escalating Flooding Situation in Mali

Mali has been experiencing above-average rainfall since July 2024. The ongoing rains and devastating floods in the Niger River have caused overflows, affecting all communes located along the river strip.  

By November 27, 2024, severe flooding from the Niger River impacted communes in Gourma Rharous and Douentza circles, within Timbuktu and Mopti regions.  

Now, as of December 5, 2024, over 153 villages with 6,758 households have been affected by the floods. The disaster has devastated agriculture, livestock, and homes. It is destroying farmlands and disrupting pastoral activities and essential resource access. 

Increasing Damage from the Floods 

The floods have caused extensive damage, destroying homes, latrines, livestock, farmland, and essential services like schools, health centers, and water points.  

Floods have also devastated livelihoods, severely impacting rice crops before harvest and submerging grazing areas, leaving livestock without access to food and resources. 

This has displaced many Mali citizens, increasing their risks of waterborne diseases, early hunger, undernutrition, and food insecurity. 

A majority of affected households (84%) households struggle to make ends meet, while almost half (48%) are homeless or displaced, living with family.  

Most (82%) households have also lost everything. 52% of households need social protection, while 72% collect their drinking water from unprotected wells.  

The situation demands urgent humanitarian assistance to address the critical needs of affected communities. 

Currently, the government and other agencies are assessing the extent of the damage. with initial reports highlighting significant destruction.  

Islamic Relief’s Response to Mali Emergency 

Islamic Relief’s local teams are on the ground conducting ongoing assessments, which will provide updates on damages, impacted populations, and humanitarian response efforts. Ensuring a coordinated, efficient response that promptly addresses the needs of affected communities. 

They are also beginning immediate distribution of food, non-food items (NFI), and shelter assistance. This will impact 215 flood-affected households in the communes of Banikane, Séréré, Rharous, and Hamzakoma.  

Our teams plan an urgent intervention to provide food, non-food items (NFI), and shelter assistance to affected households in the Rharous circle. Specifically in the communes of Banikane, Rharous, Séréré, and Hamzakoma.  

Each family will be provided with cash vouchers that allow them to purchase the relief items they need.  

The local Islamic Relief team in Mali is also coordinating with the relevant authorities, other humanitarian actors to ensure our response is timely and appropriate.  

In the short and long term, Islamic Relief will take the resilience actions required to rebuild families’ livelihoods.  

This includes the construction and rehabilitation of housing, village irrigation schemes, market gardening schemes, water points, schools, and other important facilities. There will also be the provision of agricultural inputs and equipment.  

The overall situation in Northern and Centre Mali is increasingly precarious. Especially due to the effects of flood and the situation is deteriorating by the day. Continued support and immediate action are essential to address the vulnerabilities faced by local communities and displaced families.  

The flooding persists, with the potential to exacerbate material damage, and the situation remains alarming. 

Sri Lanka is grappling with the aftermath of Cyclone Fengal. It unleashed heavy rainfall, strong winds, and severe thunderstorms across the country.  

Since late November, the unrelenting weather has caused catastrophic flooding, landslides, and widespread destruction, leaving many vulnerable communities in crisis. 

The Cyclone’s Destruction  

Heavy rainfall, strong winds, thunderstorms, and lightning continue to impact most of Sri Lanka, causing floods, landslides, and severe weather-related incidents. This has resulted in casualties and widespread damage.  

The most affected provinces include Northern, Uva, North-Western, Western, North Central, Central, Sabaragamuwa, Eastern, and Southern regions. 

Continuous rainfall in Sri Lanka began on 23 November 2024, with the situation worsening significantly on 28 November 2024. This was due to a slow-moving deep depression formed in the Bay of Bengal (Cyclone Fengal). This severely affected the region and triggered widespread flooding. 

The Disaster Management Centre (DMC), as of 3^rd December 2024, reported mass destruction in Sri Lanka. There are 18 fatalities, 19 injured individuals, and nearly 5,100 people still displaced across 64 evacuation centres. 

Approximately 468,750 people have been affected across the impacted provinces. Additionally, the DMC reports 107 houses fully destroyed and more than 2,600 houses partially damaged. 

Islamic Relief’s Response to the Emergency in Sri Lanka

The IPD Emergency Panel convened to discuss an Emergency Alert issued by Islamic Relief Sri Lanka in response to the heavy rains and flooding caused by Cyclone Fengal.

The Emergency panel approved a response, allowing Islamic Relief to initiate immediate response activities and eventually scale up to cover unmet needs. 

Islamic Relief is proposing an immediate intervention by providing unconditional cash assistance to affected households in the Eastern Province (Trincomalee, Batticaloa, Ampara districts), Northwestern Province (Puttalam District), and North Central Province (Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts).  

The immediate response will prioritise reaching the existing right holders who have been severely impacted. This includes orphaned children supported under the Orphan Support Program and other rightsholders from ongoing Islamic Relief funded projects. 

The cold winter months leave Afghanistan’s most vulnerable struggling. Mozdalifa lives with her 2 sons in Botkhak, a camp for internally displaced people in th nation’s capital, Kabul.

Since losing her husband 6 years ago, the 45-year-old has struggled to make ends meet.

“We don’t have food every day. One day, we have food and we keep the same food for the next day, so we don’t starve,” Mozdalifa says.

The roof of the family’s 1-room mud-brick house is damaged, making it impossible to keep out the winter cold.

But Mozdalifa can barely afford rent, let alone the necessary repairs.

Winters in Afghanistan can be extremely harsh with temperatures dropping to -25°C, sometimes even lower, for months at a time. Last year, temperatures fell as low as -34°C and more than 160 people died. 

To fight the cold, Mozdalifa’s sons collect plastic bottles and other waste, which she burns to heat their room. The fumes are toxic, but it’s their only way of keeping warm. 

A lifeline during the coldest months 

Islamic Relief’s annual Winterisation Program provides blankets, fuel and warm clothing to families in need.  

Last winter, Mozdalifa was one of around 475,500 people across 18 countries to receive this vital support. 

This year, we plan to extend the program to reach families in 19 countries. With your support, Islamic Relief can be a lifeline to even more people in need. 

Please help us protect families from the worst of winter. Donate to our Winter Appeal now. 

For families already struggling with poverty, the winter season brings even greater challenges.

With temperatures dropping to 10°C in normally balmy Bangladesh, the cold and foggy weather can be difficult for those who are accustomed to a warmer climate.

Cold, fever and other sicknesses strike many people, particularly children and the elderly.

Winter, a difficult time of year

For Mohammed, 58, the cold season is an unwelcome disruption. “The month of winter means months of unhappiness,” he says. “This is a difficult time of year.”

The father of 3 describes how his family suffers greatly from conditions such as pneumonia, asthma, and high fever during the cold months. The family struggles to make ends meet and afford treatment and care for one of Mohammed’s daughters, who has a disability.

41-year-old Hamida lives with her husband and 7 children. Her husband sometimes earns a small amount of money working as a day labourer, but the family struggles to make ends meet.

The arrival of winter, with its excessive cold and fog, means there are fewer opportunities to earn, and the family are unable to buy themselves warm clothes for cold weather.

It is a vicious cycle, with the lack of appropriate clothing leaving Hamida’s family vulnerable to illness, which in turn, affects their ability to work.

Protecting families from the cold

Islamic Relief’s annual Winterisation Program provides blankets, fuel and warm clothing to families in need.

Last winter, Islamic Relief supported 475,500 people across 18 countries to receive this vital support.

Photo: Mohammed and Hamida’s families are among those assisted last year

Mohammed describes his family’s happiness at receiving warm clothes from Islamic Relief. “These hoodies will protect our children from cold,” he says, with relief.

This year, we plan to extend the program to reach families in 19 countries. With your support, Islamic Relief can be a lifeline to even more people in need.

Please help us protect families from increasing hardship during the cold months. Donate to our Winter Appeal now.

Mohammad Najibi, a photographer for Islamic Relief based in Afghanistan’s Herat province, recounts a year spent witnessing the indomitable spirit of his fellow Afghans as they rise from the ashes of despair following a devastating earthquake in October 2023. As winter approaches, he shares the stories of families facing the cold with little more than a tent to protect them from the elements.

Every click of my camera captures not just images. It also takes the raw emotions of families struggling to reclaim their lives amid the rubble. The tremors may have subsided, but the echoes of grief still linger. As winter approaches, I see those same resilient faces—filled with hope yet shadowed by uncertainty. Facing another harsh season with little more than their faith to survive.

Life in Afghanistan Where the Harsh Cold Hits the Hardest

As I draw closer to Shorabak village in the Injil district of Herat province, one of the areas hit hardest by the disaster, a striking contrast reveals itself. The serene beauty of the mountain trekking road, framed by a clear blue sky, soon gives way to a sprawling makeshift settlement that tells a different story. Tents, worn and weathered, pepper the landscape like the scattered memories of a once-thriving community.

It’s mid-October, and the few trees and shrubs are shedding their leaves, embracing the harsh winter. The air is filled with the smell of mud. It is mixed with dust that floats in the sunlight, creating shades of tan and brown.

In this challenging environment, families huddle together in their fragile shelters, their faces etched with worry. Young children cling to their parents, their laughter faint against the backdrop of uncertainty. Each passing day brings them closer to the brink. Their provisions dwindle as hope flickers like a candle in the wind.

As the crisp autumn air settled around us, I sat down with 2 remarkable survivors. We delved into their stories of resilience and preparation. Their eyes sparkled with the wisdom of experience as they shared how they braced themselves for the harsh months ahead. It wasn’t about stacking firewood, blankets, or food; it was sheer faith.

‘I fear these harsh winter months without supplies will break us’

“For the second year in a row, we find ourselves huddled together, facing the winter in a tent,” says Zainab, a mother of 4 living in Shorabak village in Herat. “My husband can no longer work in the fields.”

“Winter is creeping in, just a month away, and already the chill bites through our thin walls,” the 60 year old says. “I look around the tent, scanning for anything that might shield my family from the bitter cold. I can’t find anything.”

Tears well up as she speaks of her eldest daughter, just 33, who has been paralysed for the last decade.

“I cannot leave her, unable to fend for herself, just when I desperately need to gather food for the others. I fear these harsh winter months without supplies will break us.”

Driving into another village, we see how families were preparing for winter. The situation was even worse than I had anticipated. Due to the ongoing windy storm this time, few tents could withstand the elements near where their mud-brick homes once stood.

‘My children are woken by strong, cold wind shaking our tent at night’

“All my family belongings, including utensils and clothing, are trapped in my destroyed home,” Immamudin, 32, reflects sorrowfully. “For nearly a year now, I’ve been sharing this tent with my 3 young children and my pregnant wife. Soon, our 5 sheep will join us in this tent.”

He continues, his voice trembling, “The winter hasn’t even begun, but the nights are already biting cold, and I dread what’s to come. When it snows, I fear for my family’s safety.”

With a heavy heart, he adds, “I’ve had to set up our tent again and again as the strong winds relentlessly tear it down.

“We go to bed hungry most nights,” he admits, a look of despair crossing his face. “We rely entirely on the kindness of charitable organisations. It’s heartbreaking to watch my children suffer like this.”

At night, he finds himself huddling closer to his kids, whispering words of comfort as the cold wind rattles their temporary home. “I wrap my arms around them, trying to shield them from the chill. All I can do is ask for help—warm clothes and food—for my family’s survival.”

Immamudin’s daughter Fatima adds, “When the tents collapse on us, I wake up thinking it’s an earthquake. It is so frightening.”

‘I am pleading for your support to help my people endure the relentless grip of winter’

Zainab and Immamudin embody the heartbreaking reality many earthquake-displaced families face, struggling to survive an unforgiving winter. Their stories weigh heavy on my heart: resilient mothers and their children huddled together in a flimsy tent, their only shelter against the biting cold, with barely a few thin sleeping mats to cushion their weary bodies. The sight of their brave faces, alongside their sheep and goats, engaged in a daily fight for warmth, will forever haunt my memories. 

In this remote village, nestled among towering mountains, the weather can shift in an instant. One moment, there’s a fragile semblance of safety in their canvas tents; the next, a howling storm robs families of that fleeting comfort. The chilling realisation of what lies ahead looms closer with each passing day. The snow will blanket their fragile world in just a month, turning it into a frozen prison. The ice won’t just settle on the ground; it will creep onto the roofs of their tents, amplifying their struggle and turning survival into an excruciating fight against the elements. 

Against this harrowing backdrop, I am pleading for your support to help my people endure the relentless grip of winter.  

Islamic Relief supports vulnerable families in Afghanistan and elsewhere each winter, providing food, blankets, and fuel to help people face the cold months. Please help us to reach families in need this winter. Donate to our Winter Appeal now.

Donia currently lives with her 2 children in a camp for displaced people in Al-Baraka, Deir Al Balah. She is originally from northern Gaza but has been displaced to the south following the escalation in Israeli attacks. 

The people of Gaza have endured more than 1 year of intense suffering and relentless attacks. An astonishing 1.9 million people – 9 out of 10 people – have been displaced, often multiple times, from their homes and so-called safe zones since October 2023. 

Now, they must face a second winter far from their homes, and with safety and warmth long forgotten.   

A new type of winter  

“This winter is different from all past winters; it will be so harsh on everyone due to continued displacement,” Donia says.  

She describes trying to survive the worsening weather while living in makeshift tents with no real protection from the elements. “When it rained, we were drenched inside our tent. I have just 1 cover and a mattress and they are both full of rain. We felt cold and my little daughter didn’t have any warm clothes. We didn’t know where to go.” 

Surviving the cold in fragile tents

Winters in Gaza can be challenging, with temperatures sometimes dropping to 0°C. Many Palestinian families fled their homes with nothing but the clothes on their backs, and have lost more and more belongings in each subsequent upheaval, leaving them with few resources to combat the cold.

Intesar describes how her family of 7 is struggling without these necessities.

“We do not even have [winter] clothes. My children wear their summer clothes and put jackets over them. At night they sleep wearing sweaters to avoid feeling cold,” the 35-year-old says.

3 children share a single blanket between them, and the family tries to huddle together at night to keep warm, but it is not enough to keep out the cold.

Whoever saves a life has saved all humanity

Islamic Relief’s annual Winterisation Program provides blankets, fuel and warm clothing to families in need. For many, this can be the difference between life and death. God reminds us in the Qur’an, “whoever saves a life, it will be as if they saved all of humanity.”

Last winter, we provided this vital support to 475,500 people across 18 countries.

For Palestinians, receiving such aid this winter means that at least they need not worry that they will die from the cold.

This year, we plan to continue supporting families in Gaza, while extending the program to reach even more countries than before. With your support, Islamic Relief can be a lifeline to even more people in need.

Please help us protect families from the worst of winter. Donate to our Winter Appeal now.

Every year, brutal winter conditions batter vulnerable communities around the world. As the cold months bring harsh conditions, many families must make difficult decisions. Will they put food on the table today? Will they buy gas to fuel their heaters?

This year, these decisions are being thrown into sharper focus for millions of people across the world who have been displaced from their homes amid natural disasters and conflict. 

Across the Middle East and Asia, where homes tend to be built to withstand scorching summers, many families are often ill-prepared for the realities of winter. Storms and blizzards can be brutal and devastating. 

In 2023, Islamic Relief Worldwide delivered winter essentials to more than 475,000 people in 18 countries, helping them survive the cold season.  

Our support included distributing thermal clothing to families in Albania and Bangladesh. We renovated and winter-proofed houses in Chechnya, and distributed tents in Nepal. We delivered food to hungry communities in Kosova and North Macedonia 

This year, more is needed.  

With deadly crises forcing millions to flee their homes, families from Lebanon to Palestine will struggle even more as temperatures plummet. 

In Gaza and Lebanon especially, hundreds of thousands of people face a brutal winter in makeshift shelters, not knowing where their next meal will be coming from.  

They face a struggle to feed themselves, a struggle to keep warm, and a struggle to survive. 

We won’t let them struggle alone. 

During harsh, cold conditions, your donation will be a lifeline to families in crisis.  

With your support, Islamic Relief will help more people than ever to survive the winter. Expanding our program. This year we will reach vulnerable individuals in 19 countries.

Whether they need food, hygiene items, supplies to repair their shelter, firewood, or cash or vouchers to buy warm clothes, your support can ensure their survival. 

With your generous donations, we will again protect families from the worst of the cold season. Donate to our Winter Appeal now. 

In September 2023, eastern Libya was struck by devastating floods.  

Hospitals and morgues struggled to cope with what the United Nations called a “calamity of epic proportions”. It left the nation with over 5,200 deaths and 10,000 people reported missing.  

Libya’s worst disaster in modern history significantly altered its landscape. 30,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed, along with roads and bridges. Communities were cut off and more than 40,000 individuals were internally displaced.   

Waterborne diseases became a serious concern in the aftermath, with infrastructure severely contaminated.  

Working with local partners to deliver aid in Libya

Although Islamic Relief does not have a permanent presence in the country, we were determined to help survivors. To do so, we teamed up with local partners in Libya.

Working with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Islamic Relief provided blankets, mattresses, medical aid, food kits and baby items to families affected by the floods.   

The road ahead after the disaster

Islamic Relief is supporting Libya’s flood-affected population on the path to sustainable recovery through several ongoing projects.   

This includes working with international non-governmental organisations in Libya to provide shelter to displaced families; restore vital public infrastructure and services; and help affected children come to terms with what they have experienced through counselling and recreational activities. Through this collaboration, we also aim to strengthen the public health system by delivering emergency primary healthcare services.  

Disaster capacity-building is another key element on the road to recovery. Local organisations are often among the first to respond when disasters strike. Hence, strengthening and supporting them is an important part of our work in Libya.

Working with WHAF (World Humanitarian Action Forum), we have been training 100 local civil society organisations on disaster and crisis management. We are empowering them to prepare for and handle future disasters more effectively.  

Islamic Relief has supported almost 10,000 people in Libya to date, yet everyday life remains challenging for thousands of affected people.