COVID-19 – THE PANDEMIC THAT CHANGED OUR WORLD

The Prophet (SAW) said,

“He does not have faith in me who spends the night satiated while he knows that the neighbour to his side is hungry.”

The national lockdown has severely affected South African communities and vulnerable communities have been most affected by income loss.

As the pandemic continues, the loss income is likely to result in reduced ability to access healthcare and a nutritious diet which will negatively impact on people’s health.

Islamic Relief spent almost R 11 million distributing essential food hampers and hot meals around South Africa when the call to action was made at the beginning of the national lockdown. Thus far, 44 625 essential food hampers and 20 458 hot meals were shared with vulnerable communities and a total of R 2 349 302 was spent on maize meal alone, maize meal or “pap”, as it is known to the locals, is a staple in every household and versatile in its use.

Islamic Relief also distributed 1000 food hampers to the refugee and asylum seekers community in a partnership with UNHCR. According the UNHCR, South Africa hosts over 260,000 refugees and asylum seekers, mainly from Somalia, Ethiopia, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The distribution of food hampers will help refugees and asylum seekers as they face the added pressure of surviving in an adopted country while the nation continues with the lockdown in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Over R145 000 was spent on the distribution of hygiene kits in underprivileged communities in order to maintain good hygiene during the pandemic and lessen the risk of infection.

As the country returns to a new normal, Islamic Relief is working closely with partners on the ground in order to ascertain the immediate needs of the community and provide assistance to the most vulnerable.

Your donation to the coronavirus appeal will help families as they recover from a pandemic that caused the largest global recession in history, with more than a third of the global population at the time being placed on lockdown and businesses facing severe financial repercussions which in turn affected the livelihoods of thousands of people in South Africa alone.

Your donation will save a life.
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