Donations made toward IRUSA’s Europe Humanitarian Aid fund may be used to support emergency or long-term humanitarian work across the region. Natural tragedies like these don’t discriminate—we are so thankful that your hearts are open and generous to helping our brothers and sisters in need all across Europe, and around the world.
Europe
IMPORTANT NOTE
Twenty-five years ago, Islamic Relief USA got its start by a call for help that came from Europe, Bosnia specifically. A few young men and women’s response became the birth of Islamic Relief USA. We were there during the worst of the war when our brothers and sisters needed our help to survive. We stayed by their side through decades on the long road to recovery. Today, we’re still there, and through our innovative livelihood programs, our goal is to help them thrive.
Our legacy of service has been able to grow through the support of dedicated IRUSA donors. From Bosnia to Albania, Chechnya to Kosovo, humanitarian aid is reaching our brothers and sisters who have struggled but thrived through unemployment, poverty, hunger, inter-ethnic violence, and war. Thank you for being there for them when we first started and for continuing to show them your compassion now.
WORK ACROSS EUROPE
ALBANIA
Islamic Relief started working in Albania in 1991 after war and unrest had effectively isolated Albania and hampered already impoverished living conditions for millions of Albanians. Albania has made great strides in economic growth and poverty reduction in recent years
BOSNIA
Islamic Relief began working in Bosnia-Herzegovina in 1992 to provide vital emergency assistance to the people during the Bosnian War. Islamic Relief was actually one of the first international, nongovernmental organizations to start delivering aid
CHECHNYA
Islamic Relief was one of the first aid agencies to assist Chechens affected by conflict in the mid-’90s and has been working in the Northern Caucasus since 1995. Islamic Relief responded immediately to help refugees—relief teams pitched tents
GERMANY
Islamic Relief worked hard to help refugees fleeing to Europe to escape violence at home. Many programs were set up to assist those who reached and settled in Germany. Programs included transportation, Qurbani, hygiene kits and more
GREECE
Working with the International Rescue Committee, a special project was implemented to help refugees in need, arriving between Molyvos and Mytilni Islands in Greece. The initiative was integrated, offering assistance in the form of registration services
ITALY
On Aug. 24, 2017, a devastating 6.2 – magnitude earthquake struck central Italy. It was felt across a large swathe of the country, including in Rome. Islamic Relief Italy relief staff and volunteers were on the ground in less than 12 hours
KOSOVO
Islamic Relief has played a major role in the postwar reconstruction and rehabilitation effort in Kosovo, and has been working in the area since 1999. The Islamic Relief Kosovo office later opened in the capital city of Pristina
MACEDONIA
In 2016 upwards of 140,000 asylum seekers arrived in Europe from Syria and Iraq causing a strain on logistics and crisis intervention for the entire region. Just between January and September 2017 one of out every six refugees were children
SERBIA
Working with Catholic Relief Services, IRUSA donors helped some 2,000 refugees in Serbia with urgent aid. Individuals received items including food packages, hygiene kits, warm clothing, rubber boots and sneakers, blankets, backpacks for carrying items
