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In the Horn of Africa, the confluence of natural disasters and conflict has forced millions from their homes. As Islamic Relief marks World Refugee Day, we turn our attention to the enduring spirit of those who have been displaced.

These are the stories of Amina and Sacdiya, 2 mothers whose lives have been upended by relentless droughts and violent unrest. Despite these challenges, they continue to strive for a better future for their children.  

The crisis unfolds  

The Horn of Africa is experiencing its worst humanitarian crisis in decades. 3 years of drought decimated crops and livestock, only for unexpected floods to wash away the little that remained.

According to the World Health Organization, over 50 million people in the region are facing acute food insecurity. Among them, the most vulnerable are children under 5, with mothers like Amina and Sacdiya doing everything possible to keep their families nourished and safe.  

Amina: Fleeing from flames  

Amina lived a peaceful life in the once-flourishing village of Kaaro in Somalia. Her days were filled with tending to her small farm where she grew vegetables and raised chickens. However, the onset of severe drought turned her fertile land into a barren desert. Without rain, her crops failed, and her chickens perished. The situation grew worse still when conflict erupted in her region, forcing her to flee with her family.  

“We had to run from our home because the fighting was so close,” Amina recalls. “I could hear gunshots and see smoke rising from nearby villages. It was terrifying.” She gathered her 3 children and embarked on a harrowing journey to find safety, leaving behind everything they owned.  

Now living in a camp for internally displaced persons (IDPs), Amina reflects on the life she had to abandon. “We were self-sufficient. We had enough to eat, and my children were happy. Now, we rely on aid for our survival.”   

Despite the hardships, Amina remains determined to provide for her children. With support from organisations like Islamic Relief, she receives cash that enables her to buy essential food items. “I can at least get rice and beans for my children. It’s not much, but it’s something”.  

Sacdiya: Surviving the floods  

In Ethiopia’s Afar region, Sacdiya and her family faced a different but equally devastating struggle. For years, they endured relentless drought that dried up their wells and left their livestock parched. When the rains finally came, they brought not relief but destruction. Flash floods ravaged her village, sweeping away homes, livestock, and livelihoods.  

Sacdiya vividly remembers the day the floods hit. “We heard a loud roar, and before we knew it, water was everywhere,” she says. “I grabbed my 4 children and ran towards higher ground. We lost everything in the flood, including our home and our animals.”  

Displaced and destitute, Sacdiya’s family sought refuge at an IDP camp. Life in the camp is a daily struggle, but Sacdiya’s spirit remains unbroken. She has used cash provided by Islamic Relief to purchase food and basic necessities. “This help is a lifeline for us,” she explains. “It gives me the ability to choose what my family needs most. My children can eat, and I have hope for their future.”  

Refugees and the Power of Resilience  

Amina and Sacdiya’s stories are emblematic of the millions of families that have been uprooted by climate change and conflict in the Horn of Africa. Their resilience is a testament to the human spirit’s ability to endure and adapt in the face of overwhelming adversity. Through the support of Islamic Relief, they are finding ways to survive and rebuild their lives.   

For Amina, the hope is to one day return to her village and revive her farm. “I dream of the day I can go back home and see my children running through the fields again,” she says. For Sacdiya, the goal is to secure a stable future for her children. “I want them to go to school and have opportunities I never had,” she shares. “I want them to have a life where they don’t have to worry about their next meal.”  

Refugees Around the World Need Our Support

On this World Refugee Day, we honour the resilience of refugees and displaced persons like Amina and Sacdiya Their stories remind us of the urgent need for continued humanitarian support and long-term solutions to address the root causes of displacement. As we reflect on their struggles and hopes, let us reaffirm our commitment to standing in solidarity with all those who have been forced to leave their homes in search of safety and a better life.  

Join us in standing in solidarity with families forced to flee and donate to Islamic Relief to support our work to enable refugees to live dignified lives.  

In Gaza, the already dire humanitarian situation worsens, as already struggling civilians once more face the horror of major airstrikes.

The nightmare began on early Saturday morning, 7th October 2023, when major airstrikes commenced, sending shockwaves across Gaza.

Since the wake of the bombing, the number of dead and critically injured has been rising across the region, marking an unprecedented escalation of violence and a deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Thousands of Palestinians in Need of Support

Islamic Relief staff in Gaza have described the situation as being unlike anything they’ve ever seen.

The latest death toll, as of October 10th 2023, stands at 500 Palestinians and over 8,000 injured. But the number is expected to be more, as airstrikes have targeted residential blocks without any prior notice of strikes.

Hostilities have also led to internal displacement.  More than 17,500 families, comprising over 123,538 people, have been internally displaced in Gaza, mostly due to fear, protection concerns and the destruction of their homes.

Out of the internally displaced persons (IDPs), a report from the United Nations estimates that 73,538 people are sheltering in 64 schools, some of which are designated emergency shelters.

Gaza Targeted by Occupying State

Israeli airstrikes and shelling have targeted houses and apartment buildings in Gaza.

In some cases, residential buildings were reportedly struck without warning for residents to evacuate. Notably, four large residential towers with multiple floors of residential units (Palestine, Al-Hashim, Wattan, and Al Aklouk) in Gaza City were completely destroyed. 

According to the Gaza Ministry of Public Works and Housing, 159 housing units have been destroyed, while 1,210 have suffered severe damage.

Civilians Also Deprived of Health Support

6 healthcare workers were killed and four injured by Israeli airstrikes that also damaged seven healthcare facilities and nine ambulances. 

Israeli airstrikes have also caused damage to WASH-related facilities, undermining the provision of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services to over 400,000 people.

In Gaza, more than 90% of available water was unsafe to drink before this most recent escalation and food supplies were not enough for most families. Without support from WASH-related services, much of the population will struggle to access the clean water needed to survive.

Gaza also suffers from a chronic lack of electricity supply, which has a knock-on effect on health, water and sanitation services’ ability to operate. Gaza’s current electricity generation is less than 60 MW. This falls significantly short of the necessary power to sustain WASH services across the entire Gaza Strip.

A desperate situation made worse

On Monday, October 9th 2023, Israel announced a ‘total’ blockade of Gaza, including a ban on food and fuel, and the water supply to Gaza was cut. The impacts of this are likely to make the desperate humanitarian situation in Gaza even worse.

Decades of occupation, blockade, and recurring conflict have created a humanitarian nightmare in Gaza. Most people do not have enough food, 90% of available water is unfit for public consumption and trauma is taking its toll on ordinary families.

Gaza’s healthcare system is also particularly fragile, with overstretched and poorly-equipped health facilities struggling to meet rising needs.

Much of the population relies on humanitarian aid from charities like Islamic Relief just to survive and this number may well rise as internal displacement spikes due to the ongoing hostilities.

Islamic Relief Provides Ongoing Support for Gaza

Islamic Relief remains steadfast in our determination to assist Palestinian families. Working closely with our local partners, we are preparing our humanitarian response, which is likely to initially focus on distributing medical supplies and urgently needed essentials.

With your support, Islamic Relief will remain a lifeline for Palestinian families. Help support our brothers and sisters in Gaza during their time of need.

Derna, a port city in eastern Libya, has faced the worst of the recent floods, leaving its residents in a state of despair. A quarter of the city was wiped out, thousands of people were killed and at least 10,000 have gone missing since the wake of the disaster. 

Amidst the chaos, Islamic Relief emerged as one of the first relief organisations to reach the devastated city, providing crucial support and aid to those affected by the floods.

Risking Lives for the Sake of Humanity

With dedication and unwavering commitment, our team members embarked on a challenging journey to Derna to deliver aid to those in need. 

Risking their own lives to reach the flood-affected areas, the journey took two arduous days, traversing rugged terrain. Despite treacherous roads and countless hurdles, our dedicated team pressed forward, determined to provide hope to those most in need. 

Aiding the Affected: What Islamic Relief Provided

Seeing the faces of dishearted families light up upon the arrival of emergency support served as a powerful reminder of the importance of our mission.

The situation in Derna was heart-wrenching, but being able to provide them with support made a significant impact. 

Working with local relief organisations to ensure that aid was delivered effectively and efficiently, altogether, we provided hot meals, blankets, food packs and mattresses to approximately 900 families. 

A Call for Continued Support

While help is ongoing, the need in Derna remains substantial. The devastation left by the floods in Libya is profound, and communities, in this city and other hard-hit regions, are in mourning. 

Help provide the people of Libya with relief from the harsh aftermath of the floods. Give today and save lives. 

In the Horn of Africa, across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, 43 million people are currently in need of emergency assistance due to climate-induced disasters.

As these natural disasters continue to worsen and wreak havoc on vulnerable communities, we all have a responsibility to come together and take action against climate change for the sake of a better world for all.

The Horn of Africa and the climate breakdown

As one of the world’s most impoverished regions, the Horn of Africa is home to millions of people facing chronic food and water insecurity, malnutrition and limited access to basic services including infrastructure, health care, education and social welfare. However, the recent ongoing drought has made these underlying conditions even worse.

Since the wake of the crisis, more than 2.7 million people have been displaced across Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, and more than 13 million livestock have died – destroying not only livelihoods but an entire way of life. 32 million people are also acutely food insecure and at risk of famine.

While there have been rains that have brought some relief to many areas, they also bring new threats. These include unexpected floods, more displacement and increased risks of disease, livestock loss and crop damage.

What’s worse is that scientific evidence has found that the severity of the situation has largely been driven by human activities, including our overreliance on fossil fuels, particularly in wealthier nations.

Our role in the climate crisis

Recently, a study reported that the increase in natural disasters such as the Horn of Africa drought has been primarily caused by the release of greenhouse gases, produced by fossil fuels, into the atmosphere. This has also made events like the current drought much stronger and more likely.

As such, the time has come for us to acknowledge our role in climate breakdown and take decisive action.

We must hold polluters accountable for the damage they have caused. We must call out coal, oil and gas corporations and urge them to provide reparations for the losses and damages inflicted by climate change and to support local rehabilitation, remediation and transition efforts.

We cannot allow these corporations to dictate the rules of climate action, exert undue influence over climate talks, or undermine the global response to climate change.

Islamic Relief and our support for climate action

In the face of the terrible drought in East Africa, Islamic Relief has been working tirelessly to support people who lack basic necessities like food and water. But our commitment extends beyond immediate humanitarian efforts, crucial as these are.

To address this crisis, we are calling for an end to fossil fuel subsidies and a swift, fair and equitable transition away from existing infrastructure. We urge international cooperation to significantly increase financial and technological support to ensure widespread access to renewable energy.

It is crucial that we do not fall for false solutions such as offsets, carbon capture and storage, or geoengineering, which only distract us from the real issues at hand.

By transitioning away from fossil fuels, supporting renewable energy, and holding polluting corporations accountable, we can pave the way for a sustainable and resilient future for all.

Join Islamic Relief in our work to assist communities already suffering due to climate change. With your support, we can continue to provide lifesaving aid, help communities become more resilient, and campaign for crucial action to tackle the causes and end greenhouse gas emissions.

As we mark the one-year anniversary of the devastating Pakistan floods, we reflect on the catastrophic and ongoing impact this natural disaster has had on the lives of thousands of families and communities.

The memories of destruction, displacement and loss are still fresh, as we continue ongoing efforts in Pakistan to rebuild and restore hope in the lives of those who were most deeply affected by the calamity.

Comparing this year’s floods

The first of this year’s monsoon rains arrived in Pakistan earlier in July, bringing with them further destruction and devastation to the nation’s population.
Eighty-six people were killed and 151 more injured in the 4-9 July rains, according to Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). Ninety-six houses sustained damage and 46 livestock died.

Lahore, in particular, experienced extremely heavy rainfall, leading to flooding in the city, while flood warnings were also issued to communities living near the Sutlaj, Ravi, Chenab and Jhelum rivers.

Upon the second spell of monsoon rains, the Chenab River flooded, causing extensive damage to the 50 villages nearby, with crops destroyed and communities cut off.

The Government of Pakistan has carried out evacuations and rescue operations and established flood relief camps in affected areas.

As the effects of the disaster continue, especially in flood-affected areas, Islamic Relief is working closely with the government and relevant stakeholders to assess developments as the monsoon season continues.

Remembering the historic floods

The arrival of the monsoon rains comes as Pakistan marks its 1st anniversary of the historic flooding event.

The 2022 floods were the worst in living memory, submerging one-third of the country and affecting more than 33 million people. The hardest hit were the areas of Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, as ten of thousands of families struggled to access emergency relief and shelter as major roads and bridges were cut off and destroyed in the disaster.

By the end of the monsoon season, across the country, more than 1,700 people lost their lives and over 890,000 homes were destroyed, with a further 1.4 million sustaining damage.

Our ongoing response in Pakistan

From the very early stages of Islamic Relief’s response, it was clear that targeted long-term support would be needed to help lives and livelihoods in Pakistan.

Since the wake of the crisis, we’ve reached tens of thousands of people with aid, distributing almost 7,000 tents and 20,000 hygiene kits. We’ve also provided over 20,000L of clean drinking water, as well as delivered food packs to 25,000 families.

Our teams are also focused on helping communities recover from the disaster as quickly as possible, ensuring that vulnerable people do not continue to suffer the terrifying impact of the flash floods this year and in the future to come.

None of this would have been possible without the compassion and generosity of supporters like you, who allowed our teams to be on the ground during the wake of the disaster, restoring hope and joy to the lives of our brothers and sisters who needed it the most.

A year on from the disaster, please keep flood-affected people in Pakistan in your thoughts. Help us to support them in rebuilding their lives and livelihoods by connecting your giving with Islamic Relief.

Three years have passed since the devastating Beirut explosion, a tragedy that left a deeper scar on the already struggling population of Lebanon.

As the nation continues to grapple with the aftermath of the Beirut Blast and the ongoing economic crisis, we reflect on this disaster and work towards supporting the people of Lebanon in their recovery and helping bring back hope into their lives.

Looking back on the tragedy

4 August 2020 was a normal day in Lebanon, until it wasn’t. Around 6pm, as many in Beirut returned home from work and began preparing evening meals, a plume of smoke rose up from the city’s port.

White flashes – later identified as fireworks – could be seen going off near the base of the plume, but onlookers had hardly any time to try and figure out what was happening.

Less than 40 seconds after the plume appeared, a massive explosion ripped through the city, levelling buildings, overturning cars and smashing windows.

The blast was so huge it was felt in neighbouring countries and heard as far away as Cyprus. News outlets beamed eyewitness footage of the explosion into the homes of shocked viewers around the world.

It was immediately obvious that the scale of the damage would be as enormous as the blast itself.

Crisis on top of crises

At least 218 people were killed and around 7,000 were injured. Damage to properties was estimated to be as high as $15 billion.

As people worldwide were being urged to stay indoors to limit the spread of coronavirus, some 300,000 in Beirut suddenly found themselves homeless.

Addressing damage on this scale would be an immense challenge for any small country, but the blast came as Lebanon was already grappling with near-total economic collapse and long-standing political instability. The latter was only set to worsen in the weeks that followed.

No end in sight to the devastation

It’s been 3 years since the explosion on 4 August 2020, which we now know was caused by the improper storage of highly flammable materials.

While the pandemic has ended, Lebanon’s other crises have maintained their tight grip on the country, reversing some development gains and further straining services already stretched beyond their limits.

Since the explosion, a fuel crisis in the summer of 2021, a cholera outbreak and economic fallout from the war in Ukraine have added to the woes of the Lebanese people – as well as the more than 1 million refugees based in the country.

The currency has lost more than 95 per cent of its value since 2019, and food prices shot up by more than 480 per cent between January 2021 and 2022. The cost of electricity, water and gas have similarly skyrocketed.

Amid these high costs, schools, hospitals and other essential services have been left struggling to operate or forced to close entirely.

The United Nations estimates that 3.1 million people – in a nation of 5.5 million – will likely require food assistance in 2023.

Our unwavering support in Lebanon

Islamic Relief has been supporting Lebanese nationals and refugees in the country since 2006, and we continue to stand with those in desperate need of assistance.

In the immediate aftermath of the blast, provided shelter, food and water to those affected. We also assisted with clearing the streets of wreckage, which directly benefitted more than 10,000 people.

We supplied 12 health facilities with fuel, medication, supplies and equipment so that they could continue to treat the injured.

Recognising the increased vulnerability of at-risk individuals, we also trained 20 religious and ethnic leaders on the risks of gender-based violence and the importance of child protection.

As time went by, we adapted our response and began repairing and restoring damaged houses, allowing families to return home. Our emergency response following the blast helped ease the burden of more than 100,000 affected people.

Help return hope to the lives of people in Lebanon

In the 3 years since the explosion, Islamic Relief has provided support to more than 500,000 vulnerable people in Lebanon.

And our work continues. We are currently supporting the repair of water networks and clean energy solutions including solar-powered systems, as well as continuing to supply healthcare facilities with essential materials.

Our seasonal Ramadan and Qurbani programmes ease the burden on families at these special times of the year, while the blankets, food and fuel we provide during winter are a lifeline to refugees and others in the cold months.

Lebanon’s perceived status as a rich country in a region plagued by crises, as well as the complex nature of its prolonged economic and political turmoil, can mean the humanitarian situation is often overlooked.

But people in Lebanon desperately require sustained and significant support to make ends meet.

By giving with Islamic Relief, your kindness could continue providing a lifeline for those in need in Lebanon and around the world.

In the thick of winter, a cold wave is sweeping over Bangladesh. With many cities recording record-low temperatures, harsh winds and heavy fog daily, day-to-day life in Bangladesh has become more unbearable.

Suspended public transport, no warm clothing and overcrowded hospitals are now the norms this winter for the people of Bangladesh. The struggle for survival has ramped up, especially for the nation’s most vulnerable.

Bangladesh’s poor worst hit

The harsh winter weather has caused immense strife for low-income families, forcing them to stay indoors and forgo their main source of income.

Stories of mothers and fathers unable to leave home for work in the morning are not uncommon. Severe weather conditions have suspended ferry operations on vital river routes, such as the Daulatdia–Paturia and Aricha–Kazirhat. Hours of delays are causing long tailbacks on the highways connected by these river routes, pushing thousands of people out of work and struggling to care for their children and elderly.

For those that can work, the cold weather and biting winds leave daily wage earners and farmers in the northern districts suffering, as a vast majority don’t have the means to buy fuel or adequate clothing to keep warm during winter.

With most of the population unable or struggling to work due to the intense winter weather, poor communities in Bangladesh face an increased risk of contracting illnesses and diseases with little to no support.

Winter illnesses are rapidly spreading among the population

As the winter weather conditions worsen, patients suffering from cold, flu, and other winter illness are overwhelming Bangladeshi hospitals.

Many medical centres are over capacity, as groups of hundreds around Bangladesh are in desperate need of medical aid. Numbers of diarrhoea, spread by the rotavirus, in particular, are high, especially among children, who are also most susceptible to cold-related diseases.

The lack of access to health facilities and medical knowledge in Bangladesh is also leaving countless vulnerable families in the dark. Many parents are also unknowing of how severe cold-related diseases can be and are bringing their children to the hospital only after the illness intensifies and reaches its last phase. If this continues, this winter could put Bangladesh’s future at further risk.

Your support can give hope to struggling communities

As food and energy prices continue to rise, more and more people in countries like Bangladesh are pushed into poverty. In winter especially, when the plummeting temperatures and harsh weather leave poor families with little sustenance or shelter, the world’s most vulnerable face an even greater struggle for survival.

In this fight for families to feed and keep their loved ones warm and safe, Islamic Relief Australia is on the ground delivering vital survival items, such as warm clothes, blankets, and heaters, to vulnerable communities.

This winter, with more people than ever before in desperate need, Islamic Relief is determined to reach and save thousands more individuals in over 17 countries with our Winter Appeal, including the people of Bangladesh. 

What do you do in Australia when faced with an emergency? For refugees and new immigrants in Australia, it can be challenging to find disaster recovery programs that cater to diverse cultural and linguistic needs. 

At Islamic Relief, we firmly believe in giving everyone the right to feel empowered and protected, especially during times of crisis. From what numbers to call and who to turn to, all communities should have the ability to rebuild and recover after any natural disaster, whether it be floods, droughts or bushfires.

That’s why, with the support of the NSW Government’s Community Resilience Innovation Program (CRIP), Islamic Relief is here to provide programs that provide communities with the tools they need to navigate through local emergencies end-to-end, from prevention to recovery. And we’re delighted to share with you a video of this journey so far.

2022 has come to an end, and its end brings with it an opportunity to reflect on the year that was.

We as a team have been doing just that recently, and want to share some of our highlights and reflections with the broader community. 

This year was the first true “post-pandemic” year, where we were able to focus on healing the poverty and hardship caused around the world by COVID-19 while also responding promptly to numerous global emergencies, including floods, earthquakes and more. 

Islamic Relief Australia continues its ongoing efforts to address local needs, helping fundraise for numerous Muslim community initiatives, responding to natural disasters and actively engaging in important community forums.

We couldn’t have achieved what we did this year without the support of our fantastic team and volunteers, and the ongoing generosity of our donors. Here are some of the key highlights and notable events that made the year what it was for us.

Supercharging our active community collaborations

One of the hallmarks of Islamic Relief Australia’s history to date has been our closeness to the Australian Muslim community.

We are by, of, and for our community. We share its struggles, celebrate its successes and have an important part to play in its progress as a uniquely international and mature full-scale NGO with a truly global presence. 

With the most directly disruptive phase of the COVID-19 pandemic behind us, Islamic Relief Australia aits collaborations and activities with the community in a big way: we sponsored a landmark community event (see below) and helped fundraise and provide our experience for the benefit of various centres and mosques in the making.

Crescent Awards: A new, community-building partnership

On Saturday the 6th of August 2022, Islamic Relief Australia was privileged to be a Principal Sponsor of the inaugural Crescent Awards.

The Awards were a notable, landmark event in our community’s history, bringing long-needed and overdue recognition to the efforts of incredible Muslims in the education sector: From teachers and educators to aspiring students and those giving back to the community.

The Awards were a fantastic evening, with the clear potential of our community on display for all to see. The Islamic Relief Australia team was there in support, and our CEO, br Samir Bennegadi, delivered an address on our relationship with Crescent Wealth and Crescent Foundation, as well as on our reasons for supporting the inaugural Awards night.

We look forward to an incredible, lasting relationship with the Crescent Awards as a landmark new event on the annual Muslim community calendar.

Partnership with key Centres and Mosques in the making

At Islamic Relief Australia, connecting with local communities and helping build brighter futures remains at the heart of work.

At the core of our community are its mosques and centres: hubs of activities that give life to the community and give opportunities to young and old to immerse themselves in the lived Muslim community experience. 

We were actively involved in collaborating with some notable emerging centres and mosques in the fundraising and inception phases, including the magnificent Melbourne Grand Mosque and the landmark Al Nawawi Centre in Sydney.

Our CEO, Br Samir Bennegadi, was delighted to speak about Islamic Relief’s community-building work at the Melbourne Grand Mosque volunteers event to an enthusiastic audience in November this year.

We look forward to continuing to collaborate with such emerging hubs of our community going forward.

Ongoing intra-community events and collaboration

We were honoured to be invited by the Grand Mufti of Australia, Dr. Ibrahim Abu Mohammed, to a lunch with Bishop George Browning, bringing together these important faith leaders to discuss issues of mutual interest and concern.

The topic of discussion was inter-organisational cooperation and joint initiatives to support the people of Palestine – a cause close to the heart of our work at Islamic Relief Australia.

Bishop George Browning is the President of the Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN), a very active and vocal advocacy organisation in Australia (https://apan.org.au). 

Present from Islamic Relief was also our CEO Samir Bennegadi, and we were joined by other leading Muslim community leaders during the lunch. We believe such engagements are crucial and productive for the future of our community, and look forward to supporting more such engagements in 2023.

Bridge Walk for Charity: A Cause for Humanity

In August, Islamic Relief Australia hosted a charity walk through the heart of Sydney to raise awareness and funds for the ongoing tragic situation in Gaza.

The walk was organised in response to the humanitarian crisis that again impacted Gaza this year, where more than 44 people, including 17 children, were killed since the Israeli military launched attacks in early August 2022.

Islamic Relief Australia has always been determined to do everything to help those affected by the various crises in Palestine. The charity walk aimed to raise vital funds for a Medical Centre in Gaza to provide desperately needed medical care to support the voiceless affected by the conflict.

The walk took the participants on a scenic route through Sydney on a beautiful Sydney day, on a 3.2 km walk from Archibald Fountain, and ended at Milsons Point.

Working with global leaders to help the most vulnerable

In October, Islamic Relief Australia was joined by UNICEF Australia for a workshop focused on Early Childhood Development (ECD) and our three joint ECD projects in Vanuatu, Cambodia and the Solomon Islands. 

Our partnership with this leading charitable institution allows us to reach so many more children in the Asia Pacific that are in need. 

Together, our projects empower disadvantaged families and give children a brighter future. We believe that the focus on giving children a chance in life is central to the ethos of our work at Islamic Relief Australia, and were proud to be working together with UNICEF Australia. In 2023, we look forward to continuing to do so to ensure that those most in need receive immediate aid and relief.

Involvement in the Alliance of Australian Muslims

Islamic Relief Australia was honoured and privileged to be present at the 5th Alliance of Australian Muslims Summit 2022 in October. 

Over 200 Muslim organisations were present on an important day for the Muslim community.

The National Summit focused on the key areas of promoting and preserving the Australian Muslim identity, enhancing media and political engagement, strengthening public relations, advocating for the protection of the civil rights of minority groups and religious freedom, countering Islamophobia and anti-Muslim sentiment, and matters of special interest to Australian Muslim women.

Muslim organisations from every corner of the country were gathered to bring their collective experience, energies and talents together for the long-term of our community.

The gathering was productive and extremely constructive, with great discussions on the needs of Muslims in Australia going forward.

We were represented by our CEO, Br Samir Bennegadi, who contributed on our behalf to the important conversations that happened on the day. He has also served on the Alliance’s steering committee for the last 5 years since its inception.

Continued global impact as part of the Islamic Relief family

Islamic Relief has continued to actively help people in need. Throughout the year we were still able to help more than 13 million people in 34 countries, carrying out more than 770 significant projects*.

Thanks to the generosity of our donors over 85,000 orphans were sponsored in 26 different countries, almost 1.6 million people were fed with Ramadan food packs, and more than 4 million people received nutritious meals from your Qurbani donations.

We were able to provide water, sanitation, and hygiene to over 1.3 million people and helped almost 3.6 million others with specialist support for their livelihoods worldwide.

The distances we need to travel have increased, the logistics for delivering aid have become more complex, and humanitarian needs have required more urgent responses this year.

For 38 years Islamic Relief has been able to help people in need, reacting rapidly to emergencies and providing humanitarian assistance thanks to the generosity of our donors.

We would like to thank all of our donors; you have changed lives and you have saved lives.

*Figures shown are estimates as of November 2022, the final figures will be highlighted in our 2022 Annual Report.

Humanity, as living beings, needs water to survive. We need water to drink to survive. We need water for our crops and livestock to eat and earn a living. Yet, in so many parts of the world, communities struggle to find clean water. Especially in countries like Bangladesh, where water comes from a faraway source and families spend days seeking it from sources that may not be clean in the first place.

Historically, Bangladesh has been a water-rich nation. Home to a network of hundreds of rivers, the country boasts the world’s largest river delta, the Ganges Delta. But climate change and increasingly polluted waterways have left Bangladesh in a worsening water crisis.

Climate change takes its toll on Bangladesh

As the climate crisis worsens, Bangladesh faces a disastrous future of unpredictable rainfall and major flooding. In June this year, a massive flood killed at least 22 people in Bangladesh and stranded another 4 million. Yet, reports have shown rainfall rates in Bangladesh have only fallen each year in the past two decades, a worrying decline that has been noted since the early 1950s. Crops and poorly built housing and infrastructure cannot thrive in these uncertain weather conditions.

The geographical makeup of Bangladesh has also left its population highly vulnerable to sea-level rise. As global warming continues to contribute to rising sea levels, many more Bangladeshis will be without homes and clean water as groundwater and surface water father inland become saltier as a result.

Millions of people in Bangladesh are without a reliable water supply

In addition to rising sea levels making natural water resources in Bangladesh undrinkable, these reserves are also severely polluted. Bangladesh’s rocks contain high levels of the poisonous substance arsenic, which leaches naturally into groundwater and contaminates irrigated crops and soils. Some 29 million people in Bangladesh have been found to be exposed to arsenic, mostly from contaminated shallow wells that constitute the backbone of the country’s rural water supply.

Sanitation is also an issue. Millions of litres of untreated sewage and industrial wastewater is is often released into surface waters and rivers across Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital city, alone each day. A 2019 survey coordinated by Bangladesh’s government and the United Nations children’s charity UNICEF also concluded that 82% of the population is exposed to water contaminated with the bacteria, E.coli. Bangladesh urgently needs a solution to ensure its populations are able to access the clean water they deserve.

Islamic Relief Australia is launching a WASH Program to help the people of Bangladesh

Islamic Relief Australia is launching a WASH Program (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) to help grant the people of Bangladesh their right to clean water and good health. WASH is an important aspect of any holistic development initiative and is recognised as part of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6). Having access to clean water and proper sanitation facilities are important building blocks for further development initiatives such as education, health, nutrition, and livelihoods.

Currently, Islamic Relief Australia is working closely with our branch in Bangladesh, to solve the nation’s chronic water and sanitation problems. This includes building stronger water wells that reach and grant better access to sanitation and hygiene benefits for more communities across Bangladesh.

Islamic Relief is building sustainable water wells in Bangladesh

Islamic Relief is committed to building better quality, more sustainable, safer and more durable wells across Bangladesh, even in hard-to-reach areas.

The quality of our wells standout above other charities for being rigorously checked, flood-proof and extremely long-lasting. In building wells, we also ensure that communities have a complete WASH solution that includes hygiene training, toilet facilities and clean water. Our water well price includes the construction of a toilet for the community, as well as hygiene kits and training on maintaining good hygiene.

Globally there are 2.3 billion people without sanitation facilities and 844 million people without access to safe and clean drinking water. We cannot solve the water crisis by simply drilling wells and installing low-quality water pumps. Vulnerable communities in countries like Bangladesh deserve long-term water solutions that help them achieve a brighter future.

In the words of the Prophet (PBUH), “The best charity is giving water to drink.” (Ahmad)