China
Rural Poverty
Although China is considered by many to be an economic superpower, millions of Chinese live on less than $1 per day.
As people in the cities get wealthier, people in most rural areas continue their decline into the depths of poverty.
The western and central regions of China remain underdeveloped, with poor infrastructure and limited access to education and healthcare.
Difficult access to some villages, high levels of illiteracy and language barriers have obstructed government attempts to tackle rural poverty.
Islamic Relief provides vital services to China’s poorest people, but requires your support to maintain its presence there.
Please donate generously. Your donation could help save lives.
Water Crisis
Despite rapid economic growth, China, the most populous country in the world, is facing a crisis.
360 million people do not have access to safe drinking water and an additional 700 million do not have access to sanitation facilities.
Also, frequent droughts, climate change and pollution have dried up China’s rivers.
In western China, this lack of water is constraining the livlihoods of millions of farmers and is hampering wider economic development.
Over the coming years, as more water sources dry and extreme weather events become more prevalent, large parts of China could see a rise in food insecurity.
Islamic Relief has been launching development projects, especially in the water and sanitation sectors, for years in China.
In 2004, Islamic Relief completed the construction of water pumping station in Beilin.
The pump brings water up from a local river to people living a remote mountainous area. It provides water to 5,000 people with clean drinking water as well as water for their livestock.
Without the support donors, Islamic Relief would not have been able to complete such projects. Please donate today. You can help alleviate the suffering of a family in China.
Minorities & Muslims
The western regions of China are home to many of the country’s minority groups.
A substantial portion of the Chinese living below the poverty line are minorities and several of these minority groups are Muslim.
The Hui, for example, are the largest of ten distinct Muslim ethnic groups in China. There are around 9 million Hui living mainly in the western and northern regions of the country.
Although Islamic Relief pays no heed to gender, race or creed, and provides aid and assistance to any person in need, Islamic Relief has been serving needy minorities in China unwaveringly since setting up its field office in 2002.
Through development projects, in addition to disaster relief, Islamic Relief’s donors have helped alleviated the suffering of thousands of Chinese people.
Please continue donating. Your donations help saving lives.
2008 Earthquake
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake shook southwest China in May, 2008, killing nearly 70,000 people.
The quake reduced homes, schools, bridges and hospitals to rubble, leaving more than five million people homeless.
Estimated total damages exceeded $20 billion.
Islamic Relief responded immediately, sending a large shipment of food items.
Within days of the disaster, Islamic Relief provided emergency aid to 4,000 beneficiaries in the Gansu Province where over 200,000 people were displaced and close to another 5,000 were injured during the quake.
Islamic Relief also launched multiple development projects, including the reconstruction of 10 schools.
Islamic Relief in China
Islamic Relief launched its aid efforts in China in response to the 2002 Shaanxi floods.
Following the initial emergency phase, Islamic Relief partnered with the local population to build new homes in four villages, helping hundreds of homeless flood survivors.
Islamic Relief offices in China have also been distributing Ramadan meat parcels since opening in 2002, helping alleviate severe food shortages.
Today, Islamic Relief collaborates with local organizations in the drought-affected western and central provinces of Shaanxi, Xinjiang, Ningxia, Hunan and Gansu.
Projects include rainwater-harvesting, irrigation development and girls’ education.
Islamic Relief is also working closely with Chinese organizations to develop their nationwide disaster preparedness and to improve their relief programs.