(Washington, D.C, 12/17/10) — Islamic Relief USA (IR USA), a relief and development organization based in the D.C. metro area, announced today that it will partner with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in a humanitarian effort to distribute seven containers of clothing to victims of the recent flooding disaster in Colombia. The shipment is valued at $787,500 and will be distributed to thousands of Colombians who have lost their homes and belongings as a result of this natural disaster.
Flooding and landslides have affected an estimated two million people across 28 of Colombia’s 32 provinces. More than 300,000 homes have been damaged, with nearly 3,000 completely destroyed. More than 50,000 residents of northern Colombia remain homeless—many of them taking shelter in schools, hospitals and sports venues. The death toll is estimated at 260, with another 100 persons reported missing.
This initiative parallels campaigns Islamic Relief has spearheaded to alleviate the suffering of communities affected by natural disasters worldwide. Emergency response campaigns from this year’s Haiti earthquake and Pakistan’s flood disaster were among Islamic Relief’s successful initiatives in 2010.
Inspired by Islam’s values of charitable giving and community development, Islamic Relief is a humanitarian organization dedicated to alleviating poverty through disaster-relief and development projects in the U.S. and globally for communities, providing aid in a compassionate and dignified manner and regardless of color, race, religion or creed.
This year, the “Chronicle of Philanthropy” ranked IR USA in the top 150 of its 2010 Philanthropy 400 list. Also, IR USA has been awarded four stars from Charity Navigator for seven consecutive years.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Asma Yousef at 703-582-5880, ayousef@islamicreliefusa.org