BURBANK, California (July 26, 2005) – Islamic Relief is one of the first aid
agencies to reach the people of Niger and Northern Mali with emergency food.
Over 100 tons have already been distributed and further projects are
underway to prevent an estimated 5 million people from starving to death.
According to the United Nations, around 150,000 children will die soon if aid
does not reach them in time. This crisis was widely predicted after a season
of poor rains and massive locust invasions, but until now, there has been little
response from the international community.
Islamic Relief is responding to the crisis with $5.4 million in aid, $1.8 million of
this has already been allocated. The emergency food distributions have
reached thousands of families in Niger and Northern Mali who are on the brink
of starvation.
Feeding centers are being set up to help severely malnourished patients.
Islamic Relief is providing medical aid through hospitals, feeding centers, and
mobile teams of nutritional health specialists.
Islamic Relief is also preparing a blanket feeding program in association with
the UN World Food Program (WFP) that will give a month’s supply of essential
food items to people in all of the critically affected areas.
The WFP has warned that “these statistics will only get worse over the next
few months unless immediate action is taken.”