Islamic Relief organises nationwide collections outside mosques for DEC East Africa Appeal

Press release 25 March 2017

Humanitarian aid organisation Islamic Relief has invited mosques across the UK to hold nationwide fundraising collections during Friday prayers in support of the DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal.
 
On Friday 24 March, volunteers from the DEC partner agency held collections at four mosques in London and 11 others across the UK as people attended prayers.
 
The money raised will help all 13 DEC member charities responding to the crisis to reach more people in dire need. DEC charities have already provided millions of people in East Africa with food and medical supplies.
 
In Somalia alone, Islamic Relief projects have provided 400,000 people with water, sanitation, healthcare and child welfare.
 
One of the largest fundraising turnouts was at Whitechapel Mosque in East London, where people who gave to the crisis appeal received a free lunchbox meal – from food that had also been donated by the public.
 
Imran Madden, UK Director of Islamic Relief, said:
 
“East Africa is experiencing an unprecedented humanitarian disaster, with 16 million people facing starvation in the region, including more than 800,000 young children who are severely malnourished and at risk of starving to death without immediate treatment.
 
“We want to thank all those who have fundraised for the DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal and have donated what they can to help save lives.” 
 
Adil Riaz, Islamic Relief Fundraiser, said the public’s response to the mosque collections had been phenomenal.
 
“Regardless of race, religion or gender, people have been incredibly supportive. It’s been an incredible day so far. We’ve had many individuals come together of all backgrounds, of all faiths as well which is the most important thing. We’re all here for one message and one message only: to end the famine in East Africa.”
 
Bashir Ibrahim of Islamic Relief said:
 
“I was privileged enough to go out to Somaliland in January 2017. The devastation is real. This is not an overnight sensation – the warning signs have been there for many, many months… People are dying and the urgency is now.
 
“First it’s the cattle, first it’s the livestock, next it’s the humans. In 2011, the Somalia famine caused the death of 260,000. Let us not repeat history again.”
 
Donations can be made at www.dec.org.uk or by calling 0370 60 60 610. You can also donate £5 by texting the word SUPPORT to 70000.
 
What your money could buy:

  • £25 could provide a month’s supply of life-saving peanut paste to a malnourished child.
  • £60 could provide clean drinking water for two families for a month
  • £100 could provide supplies to a clinic treating severely malnourished children for a week.

-Ends-
 
Notes to editors:

  • Media enquiries please call 020 7387 0200 or 07930 999 014 (out of hours).
  • The DEC brings 13 leading UK aid charities together in times of crisis: ActionAid, Age International, British Red Cross, CAFOD, CARE International, Christian Aid, Concern Worldwide, Islamic Relief, Oxfam, Plan International UK, Save the Children, Tearfund and World Vision; all collectively raising money to reach those in need quickly.
  • Matt Baker, Brenda Blethyn, Tamsin Greig, Bill Nighy and Eddie Redmayne have backed the DEC’s East Africa Crisis Appeal by recording calls for support from the public.
  • The UK Government is matching pound for pound the first £10 million donated by the public to the DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal through its Aid Match Fund.
  • Donations can be made at any high street bank and at Post Office counters. To make a postal donation make cheques payable to ‘DEC’ and mail to ‘PO Box 999, London, EC3A 3AA’.
  • To donate £5 by text send the word SUPPORT to 70000. The full £5 will go to the DEC East Africa Crisis Appeal. Donors must be 16 years or over and have bill payers’ permission. Texts are free and donations will be added to the bill.
  • DEC will be hosting Facebook live sessions during the week, featuring aid workers and journalists who will be discussing their experiences from recent visit to East Africa.