Many people don’t know that the first ten days of Dhu Al-Hijjah are better than all the other days of the year, the 10 best days with no exception. They are even better than the days of Ramadan, SubhanAllah!
BURBANK, CA (December 21, 2005) – The December 26, 2004 tsunami killed
170,000 people in Aceh, Indonesia, left 500,000 others without homes, and
devastated the infrastructure in the region. Approaching the one year
anniversary, Islamic Relief has completed several reconstruction projects for
tsunami survivors in addition to its initial emergency relief activities. These
projects include rebuilding schools, health facilities, and homes for tsunami
survivors.
On December 20, Islamic Relief proudly handed over the keys to the Labuy
School headmaster in Aceh Besar, as about 80 children playfully ran into their
new classrooms. Islamic Relief will hand over two more schools on December
23 in Meulaboh in the hard-hit west coast of Aceh. The schools will each
serve about 200 children who have been attending classes in barracks and
tents for the past year.
On Saturday December 24, Islamic Relief will hand over ten fully
reconstructed and equipped health clinics to the local authorities in Banda
Aceh and Aceh Besar, Indonesia. These clinics have been applauded by local
authorities as exemplary facilities.
Islamic Relief will observe the one-year Anniversary on December 26 in a
special ceremony that is being organized by the Indonesian Government. It is
expected that President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and other international
dignitaries will pay respects to the victims of the tsunami at a special, public
memorial site that Islamic Relief constructed with support from the United
Nations. The site is designed to allow survivors to pay respects to friends and
family members that died in the tsunami.
Islamic Relief’s post-tsunami activities have benefited about 150,000 people
in Aceh. Islamic Relief began relief operations in Aceh one day after the
tsunami.
The media is encouraged to attend these activities in Indonesia and cover
the progress of the relief efforts. Contact information for media in Indonesia is
provided below.
Media Contact:
Arif Khan
Islamic Relief – Banda Aceh, Indonesia
+(62) 815 3421 0262 mobile
**Notes for media professionals planning to cover the event**