Dear Supporter, This Ramadan, thanks to the contributions and support of donors like you, Islamic Relief was able to deliver food aid and other vital services to tens of thousands of people, helping them have peace of mind during the holy month. From South Africa to China, Timbuktu to Jakarta, Islamic Relief aid workers tirelessly prepared and distributed about 100,000 food packs in 25 countries, helping nearly half-a-million needy people attain food security this Ramadan, something they struggle for year round. Ramadan food packs varied in size and contents depending on location, but were generally filled with staple foods like flour, rice, oil, sugar, etc. "Every year, Islamic Relief distributes food parcels to those who are most in need," wrote Danish Aziz, the Program Coordinator at Islamic Relief's India field office. "We start our preparations long before Ramadan begins, planning our distributions based on where people are most in need of our help. Sometimes people come up to us to ask for our help, but we also have to find those who are too ashamed to ask for assistance," he added. Aziz had nothing but praise for the donors and volunteers that support the Ramadan food aid program. He saw firsthand how contributions from donors like you could help bring peace of mind to people living in the poorest regions of the world, like the vulnerable families that received one of the 5,000 food packs in his native India. Fatma Tharwat, an Islamic Relief aid worker based in Egypt, wrote about a disabled couple living in a rural village to whom she personally delivered a food pack. "[They] are so desperate for food that they will eat it even if it has gone bad," she wrote, describing the elderly couple, 70-year-old Mouha and her husband of 40 years, 75-year-old Soliman. "As Soliman went through the food items with overwhelming joy and handed them to Mouha, I thought of the donors around the world and how far their generosity had come – all the way to an elderly couple in a small village in Egypt," Tharwat wrote. "Their dedication and devotion helped us reach the poorest of the poor, and that makes all the difference. I then watched as Mouha took the packet of macaroni in her hands, hugged it to her and said with eyes full of tears, 'Thank you – thank you,'" she added. Islamic Relief's work worldwide would not be possible without the support of donors and volunteers like you. On behalf of our staff and the nearly 500,000 people who benefitted from our Ramadan food pack project, we'd like to extend our gratitude and wish you a happy Shawwal. We pray God rewards you for your generosity. It is your support that helps us maintain our projects throughout the year, serving millions of beneficaries aroudn the world. Please remember us and the world's needy in your prayers. Signed, Abed Ayoub
Islamic Relief USA CEO |