Islamic Relief to Continue Providing Relief Aid

By Robert Kumwenda

Islamic Relief (IR) organization has said that it will continue providing relief and aid to the people that are in need in Malawi.

Sherifa Mia, Country Representative for the organization said they are still supporting people that were affected by floods.

“We doubled our staff because of the increase of people that need help. Now we are writing more proposals so that we can help more people in different sectors,” she said.

Mia said the organization is a faith based which means that they help everyone regardless of gender or ethnicity saying the aim is to bring unity and togetherness among communities.

She said there mission globally is looking at alleviating poverty in different communities.

“Since the establishment of the organization in February 2006, we have responded to different emergencies that have happened in the country like providing relief aid to the people that were affected by hunger, floods and other humanitarian needs in different areas in the Southern Region of Malawi,” she said.

Mia said that they focus on Water and Sanitation, Food Security and Livelihoods, education, orphans and Child Welfare, Emergency Response and Seasonal Projects of Ramadan and Qurbani food distributions.

IR Malawi in partnership with IR UK and Malawian Asian organization UK (MAO UK) are constructing 250 houses in Blantyre and Chikwawa districts for families that are repeatedly affected by flooding and heavy rains which destroy homes.

“IR projects aims to address safety and protection of individuals and families who are living in less than adequate shelter due to flooding and heavy winds,” she said.

She said 250 permanent houses are under construction, each with three rooms with total floor area of 27 square meters to house a family of five saying that shelter determines survival in time of disaster.

Mia further said that shelter safeguards human dignity and also sustain family and community life as it helps affected individuals to recover from the impact of disaster.

IR Malawi is an international relief and development charity which envisages a caring World where people unite to respond to the suffering of others, empowering them to fulfill their potential.

IR was established in UK in1984 and is currently working in over 30 countries promoting economic and social development by working with local communities to eradicate poverty, illiteracy and diseases.