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COVID-19 Through the Lens of Our Elderly: What Do We Really Need?
A chance for us to gain perspective from our beloved seniors A reality check Our elderly loved ones are the most vulnerable and most likely to suffer death from COVID-19. We must first protect our elderly by distancing as much as possible. Unfortunately, we will not be there to hold their hands if they are hospitalized. We have all heard these sentences and many more circulating cyberspace. We have also read dozens of articles suggesting ways we can help our elderly population while observing social distancing. However, what can go missing from this abundance of information and opinion is the very perspective of those we are trying so desperately to…
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A Green Ramadan begins with Water
See how water conservation will help us all in the future Water is the most valuable resource on earth. All living beings on earth need water to survive. Many people and industries continue wasteful habits, endangering the entire world. This Ramadan let us reflect about water and its importance. You have been fasting all day long, and just can’t wait for sunset so that you can drink and eat again. But what about those who do not have access to clean water? Let this Ramadan be a way of educating yourself and others about water 1) Water and the Quran: Water has been mentioned in the Quran on several occasions.…
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A Global Crisis Means A Global Response
IRUSA ramps up support to communities devastated by COVID-19 Millions of dollars’ worth of emergency assistance to more than 20 at-risk countries has been released by Islamic Relief (of which Islamic Relief USA is a part of) in a bid to stem the spread of the deadly Coronavirus, help those infected and support vulnerable communities that have been the hardest hit. I Thousands of hygiene kits containing essentials like hand sanitizer, surgical masks and thermometers have already been delivered to high-risk communities in places like Syria and Afghanistan where vital health infrastructure has crumbled due to conflict. In the coming week, more critical assistance such as ventilators, lab kits and…
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One-on-One with Congressman André Carson
Indiana representative provides a window into policy decisions in the pandemic Watch recording here A Sliver of Hope Indiana Rep. Andre Carson (D-7) said on Wednesday, April 8, that he hopes to have another bill of the CARES ( Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act enacted to address some of the issues that weren’t included in the first round. The CARES Act is a $2.2 trillion stimulus bill recently passed by Congress to address the various social and economic aftereffects of the coronavirus outbreak (formally known as COVID-19) that have brought much of the worldwide economy to a standstill. The holding pattern has caused record unemployment (more than 10…
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Earth Day in Focus: Our Planet is Getting a Chance to Breathe
“Today I stepped outside for the first time for a very long time,” one of my Facebook friends wrote on her wall. “and guess what! I could smell the air!” she wrote. The post was part of her daily chronicles describing her experience while being quarantined as a result of COVID-19 in New Jersey. I can smell the air! What a simple, yet so powerful and meaningful exclamation. Air Pollution kills Millions of People Every Year As today is World Earth Day, her post got me thinking. What is so exceptional about being able to smell the air? Isn’t that supposed to be the normal situation? Not in our modern…
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Why We can’t Forget Yemen
A look at where the world’s most devastating humanitarian crisis stands today. “We are needy people and this basket helps us to get the basic food and this is the situation of many needy families in the area..when I received the basket from Islamic Relief, the happiness spread among the family members and my children feel very happy…it is not a problem for us to sleep hungry or to eat bread all times but it is a problem for the children.” Hallah Ali Mohammed, Ibb province Still facing hardship It has been five years since the conflict in Yemen, one of the Arab World’s poorest countries, escalated in 2015. Up…
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They’ll Need Ramadan Food Boxes more than Ever
Because of the current public health crisis families will squeezed even more by food shortages It’s so near it’s basically here Ramadan is coming, can you feel it? The anticipation is growing as we contemplate the arrival of the most special month in the Islamic calendar. Everyone has their own special Ramadan traditions, whether it’s your mum’s cooking, or getting the chance to go to the mosque every evening with your dad for tarawih, or just spending iftar with your family and friends. There are some things we all share in common though, the chance to expand our knowledge, to improve our spiritual wealth and to deeply connect with Allah. …
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Revisiting the Syrian Refugee Crisis: Hopes and Frustrations with Marwa Aly
A journal entry from Trinity College Muslim Chaplain Marwa Aly during her time in Jordan with Syrian refugees IRUSA invited a group of dynamic women community leaders on a visit to Islamic Relief USA’s Projects in Jordan serving Syrian refugees. It expose them, and educate them first hand about IRUSA’s women’s empowerment projects in Jordan, as well as the refugee projects. It was an opportunity to not only meet the staff and volunteers who make the delivery of humanitarian aid possible, but to come face-to-face with the very people we serve. How Perspectives can Change Today was both an uplifting and perspective-shifting day as we traveled to both Ramtha and…
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A World Water Day, in a Challenging Time.
As the world pushes to wash hands, IRUSA reminds us of the privilege of water to do it with. A Growing Concern World Water Day this year has come during a time of extreme change for everyone: the outbreak of Coronavirus COVID-19. Internet sites are showing no shortage of advice regarding proper hand-washing and sanitation techniques, and we are very thankful for all of it. Meanwhile, thousands of people are stocking up on bottled water in fear the pandemic could lead to an interruption of water supply. And grocery shops are resorting to extreme measures to face the panic buying urge of scared shoppers. A Daily Reality While advice on…
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DRT Returns to Continue Houston Recovery
IRUSA Disaster Response Team to Hold Home-Rebuilding Sessions in Hurricane Harvey-Ravaged Houston, Texas Islamic Relief USA’s (IRUSA) Disaster Response Team (DRT) will hold two week-long sessions of its popular, ongoing home rebuilding project in Houston, Texas, repairing houses that were damaged by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Volunteers will lodge at the new dormitory, made possible by a grant from the American Red Cross, among other resources. The dorm will house dozens of people, helping create a spirit of teamwork, camaraderie, and mission. The first week-long session is scheduled for Feb. 23-29. The next opportunity to volunteer is during the week of March 15-21. Slots are still available. “We are truly…
