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For Mohammed, Dialysis Needs Don’t End After Syria
When the word “Syria” is mentioned, our heartstrings should tighten with concern and pain, causing our hands to act and help. A Blemish on the World’s Conscience It’s no secret that the devastating war in Syria continues to tarnish innocent lives, in addition to the countless lives it has already claimed or affected. By the millions, Syrian refugees who are displaced from their homeland are seeking new places to call home, after fleeing out of fear or desperation. The crisis has placed significant strain on the financial infrastructures of neighboring countries. Over the past eight years of war in Syria, Jordan welcomed more than 662,010 registered Syrian refugees, and many…
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Journal Entries from the Field: Meeting Syrian Refugees with IRUSA
“Syrians continued to be the largest forcibly displaced population in the world, with 12 million people at the end of 2016. That’s more than half of the Syrian population.” Source: UNHCR Last month, I traveled with Islamic Relief USA to Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan—the three countries populated with the majority of Syrian refugees. It was a life changing experience for me, and I don’t think I was quite prepared for the people I would meet and the stories I would hear. They weigh heavy on my heart. Below are some of the photos I captured on my journey along with my journal entries. I hope they open your heart to give…
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IR Delivering Aid in Eastern Ghouta: “Until our very last breath”
We received an update from IR staff on the ground delivering aid in Eastern Ghouta. Read the latest account below, or check out the video linked in this post. We are in Eastern Ghouta. The date is February 25, 2018. The Islamic Relief team is working to deliver bread and food packs in Eastern Ghouta. We started on February 13, 2018 and we continued our work up until February 22, 2018. At the moment, Eastern Ghouta is under heavy bombardment 24 hours a day. Many people are now living underground, and our team has been under attack more than once during the distributions Our building has been attacked and is…
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Ramadan: 30 Faces, 30 Places
Islamic Relief USA is delivering food packages to 30 countries in the world this Ramadan. We wanted to capture what Ramadan feels like in each of those countries, so we talked to 30 people living in the United States about their experiences fasting there. Follow along with us this month as we explore Ramadan through their memories.
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Jolie, Kerry Shine Spotlight on Humanity on World Refugee Day
Secretary of State John Kerry and movie star and humanitarian Angelina Jolie visit a Virginia mosque on World Refugee Day. When Linda immigrated to the United States from Kosovo as a refugee in the 1990s, her family was treated almost like celebrities. People were excited to meet them. Neighbors brought them gifts. If she managed to gain entrance today, she would have had a very different reception — likely one full of fear and hate. Actress Angelina Jolie and Secretary of State John Kerry welcomed 50 Syrian refugees at the All Dulles Area Muslim Society (ADAMS) in Virginia Monday to recognize World Refugee Day. They sought to bring attention to…
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Remembering Refugees: A Voice from Syria
Last year, 845,000 refugees made a treacherous journey across the Mediterranean Sea in hopes of reaching Europe. Over 3,500 men, women and children died. On World Refugee Day, we remember their losses, we commemorate their strength, and we do what is in our power to help. On the halfway mark of the blessed month of Ramadan, you can give charity to help refugees who were forced to flee their homes. Ali’s Story They say, ‘Why do Syrians leave their country and migrate?’ But we had no choice but to leave. In Syria, there was no electricity, no water, no food. We were living a difficult life, worse than you can even imagine. We were on a boat heading…
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What Will Happen to the Children?
by Christina Tobias-Nahi, Director of Public Affairs at IRUSA I have just come back from Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey with an inter-agency interfaith team tasked with looking at child protection and welfare issues of emerging concern in the region. Even though I have a background in early childhood education and vulnerable children’s issues – truly I was not prepared for what we saw. Our main takeaway was this: If there is no cessation of hostilities in Syria, the children around the region will continue to suffer like we have never seen before and the effects will be multi-generational. Not just for those fleeing Syria but for the children in the…
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Dear Aleppo…
IRUSA’s Mayssoun Olabi is from Aleppo, Syria. In the aftermath of the recent attacks, she shares a reflection. Today I woke up with a heavy heart. My usual, happy disposition was muted by images that played over in my head, and sounds that echoed off the walls of my heart. My whole body ached. And though I was deeply upset, I needed to show the world that everything was okay. I needed to show my children. I needed to show myself. Forcing a smile on my face, I went about the morning as usual: Wake up, kids! Brush-your-teeth-comb-your-hair-get-ready-for-school. Eat your breakfast. I smiled as my 7-year-old daughter, Mariam, asked me…
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When Smugglers Abandon Refugee Boats At Sea
Abdullah Shawky is an Islamic Relief USA Disaster Response Team Member. This is part of the emergency story series from Greece. Salam All, I wanted to share with you all a story of a terrible tragedy that occurred the day before yesterday. Due to Internet connectivity issues, I am only able to send this message today. Today was the most difficult for all of us in the harbor. At around 1pm, we received the first batch of survivors from a terrible accident. Some were injured with cuts and bruises, but others suffered far worse… A makeshift wooden boat (we are now seeing more and more of these show up) was…
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When I Pulled A Baby From A Sinking Raft in Greece
Abdullah Shawky is an Islamic Relief USA Disaster Response Team Member. He writes from the shores of Lesvos, Greece, where responders try to rescue as many refugees from ocean waters as possible—not all make it. Here is his heart-wrenching story: You don’t have to watch children die at sea, you just have to do something right now. Salam All, It is with a heavy heart that I write the following from Greece. Last night was by far the most terrible moment here on the Island. I say terrible because although we’ve rescued many, we lost one who couldn’t even speak. It began as a light day, as there has been a blockade…
