Monday October 6, 2025
ALEXANDRIA, Va. –
Islamic Relief USA has issued the following statement, attributed to Ahmed Shehata, Chief Executive Officer at IRUSA.
“As a faith-based humanitarian and advocacy organization committed to alleviating hunger and poverty, Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) is deeply concerned about the consequences of the ongoing US government shutdown. Families across the country are left vulnerable to the loss or delay of critical nutrition assistance programs.
“For households already living paycheck to paycheck, access to programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP); the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program; and free or reduced-price school meals is not a matter of convenience — it is a lifeline. A prolonged shutdown threatens to interrupt these essential services, forcing families to make inconvenient choices between food, housing, and other basic needs.
“Hunger is not a partisan issue. It is a moral and human imperative that impacts children, seniors, veterans, and working families alike. The shutdown not only risks deepening food insecurity, but also places greater strain on community-based food banks and charities that are already stretched to the limits.
“IRUSA calls on lawmakers to prioritize the well-being of the most vulnerable. Immediate action must be taken to ensure that nutrition assistance remains fully funded and uninterrupted. Each day that passes without resolution puts more families at risk of hunger.
As a nation, we are strongest when we protect the dignity and security of all our fellow citizens — especially those struggling to put food on the table.”
Take an action to protect important programs like SNAP by visiting
MEDIA CONTACT
Syed M. Hassan
[email protected]
(571) 421-7032
Islamic Relief USA, based in Alexandria, Va., is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) humanitarian organization. Its mission is to provide relief and development in a dignified manner regardless of gender, race, or religion, and works to empower individuals in their communities and give them a voice in the world. Its programs benefit millions of people each year in more than 40 countries around the world, including in the United States.
Islamic Relief USA meets all of the Standards for Charity Accountability of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, a national charity monitoring group affiliated with the Better Business Bureau system. Islamic Relief USA is on the U.S. government’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charity list, and it is also a signatory to the code of conduct of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societie