Islamic Relief



Islamic Relief Worldwide (IRW) is an international relief and development organization, dedicated to alleviating the suffering of the world's poorest people. The organization has full-time offices in 25 countries and provides assistance in over 30 countries worldwide.

Its stated mission is: ''to alleviate suffering, hunger, illiteracy and diseases worldwide regardless of color, race or creed, and to provide aid in a compassionate and dignified manner. Islamic Relief aims to provide rapid relief in the event of human and natural disasters and to establish local development projects to eradicate poverty, illiteracy and disease.''

IRW was established in Birmingham, UK, in 1984 by Egyptian doctor Hany El Banna, in response to the famine in Africa. It is a member of the UN's Economic and Social Council (special category), and it is a signatory to the Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGOs in Disaster Relief.

Fundraising Offices are situated in the following countries: Belgium, France, Italy, Germany, Mauritius, Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States.

Fourteen field offices are spread across different countries including: Albania, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Kosovo, Mali, Pakistan, Palestinian Territories, and Sudan.

For example, Islamic Relief has worked in Pakistan since 1992 on emergency relief, development and disaster preparedness projects. IR's work was heavily focused on areas that have now been badly affected by the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, including Muzaffarabad and Bagh where IRW has several projects.

The organisation also has a higly developed orphan sponsorship programme and at present more then 22,000 orphans have been sponsored using the online database on www.alyateem.com

In addition, IRW's projects extend to almost 30 countries around the world, including El Salvador, Ethiopia, Jordan, Kenya, Kashmir, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Yemen.

Islamic Relief USA is headquartered in Buena Park, California, and has been incorporated in the State of California since 1993 as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Islamic Relief USA is a member of the Islamic Relief Worldwide family.

For the fourth consecutive year, Islamic Relief USA has been awarded with a 4-star rating by Charity Navigator, the largest charity evaluator in the United States.

In 2004 in the 20th anniversary of the charity establishment founder Dr. Hany El Banna has been awarded the Order of the British Empire I

In May of 2006, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) donated $1.6 million USD worth of emergency supplies to devastated areas of the earthquake in Java, Indonesia, teaming up with Islamic Relief Worldwide who provided the transportation in conjunction with The Islamic Medical Association of North America.