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IRUSA Attends the 2022 Congressional Black Caucus
The 51st Annual Legislative Conference By Syed M. Hassan Staff from Islamic Relief USA attended the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s 51st Annual Legislative Conference at the Washington Convention Center in D.C. between September 28-30. IRUSA had a booth set up at the marquee event, which featured top lawmakers, media personalities, nonprofit leaders, and faith leaders, among others. IRUSA’s ties to the Black community stretches back to its founding nearly three decades ago, and has only increased during that time. Many of the community-based organizations that received support during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic are entities run by members of the Black community. The pandemic has been known to…
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IRUSA to Participate in World Food Day
This Sunday, October 16, 2022 is World Food Day, a day to promote worldwide awareness and action for those who suffer from food insecurity. Across 150 countries worldwide, hundreds of events and outreach activities bring together governments, businesses, non-governmental organizations, the media, and the public with the common goal of leaving no one behind when it comes to food security and healthy diets for all. In addition to reaching out to our community in digital spaces this World Food Day for food aid support, IRUSA is also hosting a Day of Dignity event in Southern California (look for live footage from the event on our social media). Along with food,…
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Emergency in Puerto Rico 5 Years After Hurricane Maria
by Zana Sahyouni Islamic Relief ramps up relief efforts after Hurricane Fiona devastates Puerto Rico On September 19, 2022, Hurricane Fiona made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane: four deaths so far, 3.2 million without power, more than 1 million left without running water, and over 32 inches of rainfall continue to cause flash flooding. Over 1,000 people have evacuated or been rescued across Puerto Rico as floodwaters continue to rise. Hurricane Fiona hit just two days before the anniversary of Hurricane Maria which killed nearly 3,000 people and destroyed the power grid in 2017. Five years later, the island is once again in crisis. The economic impact on the…
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Day of Dignity: Helping kids in Brooklyn go back to school ready
by Zana Sahyouni At Islamic Relief USA, we believe that everyone has a right to dignity, and that is one reason why, every year, we bring Day of Dignity events to communities around the United States. Day of Dignity creates an opportunity for caring individuals from diverse communities to provide services to their neighbors in need. Through Day of Dignity, IRUSA brings volunteers around the world together to distribute food, clothing, blankets, medical care, and other services. On Sep 10, 2022 APNA Brooklyn Community Center held their fifth annual IRUSA Day of Dignity “Back-to-School” event in Brooklyn, New York. APNA chief executive officer, Erum Hanif, brought the community together, with…
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IRUSA Participates in White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, Health
by Syed M. Hassan Islamic Relief USA has long advocated for and supported programs designed to curb food insecurity and improve access to nutritious food. Unfortunately, for millions of Americans, high costs and living in food deserts serve as major roadblocks. For the first time in 53 years, the White House is hosting a Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, scheduled to take place on Wednesday, September 28 in Washington, DC. IRUSA’s President and co-founder, Anwar Khan, will attend this event along with government officials, business executives, nonprofit leaders, researchers, and community activists, to achieve the goal of ending hunger and reducing diet-related diseases in the US by 2030. “It…
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Serving the Underserved in Puerto Rico
A look into Islamic Relief’s Inspire program in Puerto Rico. by: Nabeeha Shah In Puerto Rico, over 43% of the population lives in poverty, most of which are children. The island has endured multiple disasters, the most recent being Covid-19 and Hurricane Maria, the most destructive disaster to hit the island in nearly a century. These hardships have deeply affected the country’s economy, infrastructure, and health systems, leaving communities vulnerable to poverty. Puerto Rico has demonstrated remarkable resilience, and efforts by nonprofit organizations such as Islamic Relief help to raise awareness and support those in need across the country. The most recent Islamic Relief Inspire in Puerto Rico supported development…
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Monsoons cause flooding in Pakistan, in Bangladesh, and in Afghanistan
by Yusuf Azmi The headlines are becoming all-too familiar as the damage caused by the climate crisis continues to grow and impact people across Asia. This summer’s monsoon season has been one that continues to confound expectations and has caused widespread destruction and loss of life in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Monsoons and floods alone are nothing new to the region; heavy rainfall, caused by a complex series of wind patterns, sweeps through from June through September every year. It’s a part of life for people across the subcontinent, but with every passing year, it’s becoming a time of increasingly fraught emotions and panic as the rainfall becomes increasingly dangerous…
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Connecting to the Community through IRUSA
By Zana Sahyouni Growing up in a post 9/11 world, Waseema felt like an outsider that was constantly facing racial discrimination by her peers in middle and highschool. The problems she faced ignited a desire in her to showcase how Muslims are good people. She searched for a Muslim community, and found herself at the International Learning Center Plus (ILCP) in Virginia. In between studying the Qur’an at ILCP, Waseema listened to her friends tell stories of the hardships their family members faced back home. She could not believe that so many people experienced impoverishment, displacement, and oppression in their home countries. Listening to these stories fueled Waseema’s motivation to…
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Celebrating Islamic Relief Volunteers
The Power of Our Blueshirts By Nabeeha Shah Our vision at Islamic Relief USA is a world free of poverty. We work to provide relief and development to help empower communities in need. And our volunteers help make it possible. Our Blueshirts are the lifeblood of our organization. They come from all walks of life, dedicating their time and energy to help their brothers and sisters both around the world and here at home. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said, “Be merciful to those on the earth, so the One above the heavens will be merciful to you.” Across the US, our team has helped contribute to Afghan refugee resettlement, meal packs,…
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Islamic Relief in Asia – Our Commitment to Providing Relief to those in Need for Almost 30 Years
By Yusuf Azimi Since 1993, Islamic Relief has been working in Asia, committed to providing emergency relief and integrated programming to those in need. During this time, the region has experienced numerous floodings, landslides, droughts, earthquakes and recurrent disease outbreaks, as well as conflict and economic related disasters. Throughout that time, we’ve established a base in several countries throughout Asia, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, and Sri Lanka. Building teams on the ground capable of providing effective and efficient support rapidly, whenever a crisis arises. As we look towards our 30th year of working in Asia, we recognize that although considerable progress has been made, there are…
