Walking while fasting on the hottest day
As Muslims around the world prepared for Eid-al-Fitr celebrations under lockdown this weekend, the founder of Islamic Relief, Dr Hany El Banna, once again demonstrated his boundless passion for humanity with a four-mile fundraising “Walk4Food” challenge, through the streets of Birmingham.
He embarked on this challenge, while fasting on one of the hottest days of the year so far, to raise funds for Islamic Relief’s food security programmes in Africa.
Dr. El Banna began his walk from 477 Moseley Road, where Islamic Relief started in 1984 and walked to Birmingham Central Mosque via Ghamkol Shareef Mosque, Green Lane Masjid, and Amanah Mosque.
Covid19 impacting on Food Security Globally
Food supply chains across the world have been disrupted by Covid-19. The economic downturns are affecting the ability of millions to afford food. Children and vulnerable families will suffer the most from extreme hunger as they cannot access food.
The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) last month cautioned that the Coronavirus Pandemic could double the number of people in acute food insecurity this year, to around 265 million globally.
Dr Hany El Banna said:
“We have all felt the effects of the Coronavirus pandemic. Many of us have struggled with sickness or day-to-day life in isolation, and sadly many have lost loved ones. Around the world, the effects of this pandemic are being felt.
In sub-Saharan Africa 319 million people do not have access to clean drinking water. Millions of people are being pushed into poverty. Food shortages, lack of medical equipment and those infected face an impossible struggle with the virus due to a lack of proper medical support. This is why I’ve decided to do a Walk4Food – to help feed vulnerable people in Africa and ensure they don’t go hungry.”
Money raised from Dr. Hany’s challenge will help provide food for people in some of the world’s poorest countries where Islamic Relief works, including Somalia, Ethiopia and South Sudan.
How you can get involved
Donations to the Walk4Food challenge can be made by visiting: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/Walk4Food
The walk which was broadcast live on Friday, 22 May 2020 can be viewed on Dr Hany’s Facebook page : https://facebook.com/DrHanyElbanna
FYI:
- Dr Hany El Banna has founded several charities including Islamic Relief, The Humanitarian Forum and the Muslim Charities Forum. He is also a board member of the Center for Interfaith Action on Global Poverty (CIFA). He has visited over 60 of the world’s poorest and most vulnerable countries on behalf of these organisations.
- Islamic Relief is a faith-inspired, development and humanitarian agency working to transform and save the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in over 40 countries. Islamic Relief assists people according to need and does not discriminate in any way.
- Set up in Birmingham in 1984 by a group of volunteers, we have assisted over 117 million people all over the world. We’re saving lives and empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty in over 40 countries – from Bangladesh to Bosnia, Pakistan to Palestine, Kenya to Kosovo. Islamic Relief is on the ground in some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult places – including Syria and Yemen – strengthening the most marginalised communities to withstand conflict and natural disasters and to build a brighter future. We also support vulnerable people in the UK in partnership with local charities and organisations.