BURBANK, California (March 10, 2005) – The Muslim community in Detroit, in
conjunction with Burbank, CA based charity Islamic Relief USA is holding a
fund-raising benefit dinner for the devastating humanitarian crisis in Darfur,
Sudan.
The fund-raising event will take place this Saturaday at 6:00 pm at the
Islamic Association of Greater Detroit. Islamic Relief USA represenrtative
Anwar Khan, who has visited Darfur, Sudan, will be making a presentation at
the event to inform constituents about the on-going crisis, and what Islamic
Relief is doing to assist the victims. This event is being organized primarily by
local High School students.
The massive displacement as well as the ongong security and health risks in
the region has led to the United Nations to refer to the situation in Darfur as
the “world’s greatest humanitarian crisis.”
Mr. Khan will be available at the event for comment or interview.
What:
Fund-raising Benefit Dinner for the Victims of the Crisis in Darfur, Sudan
Where:
Islamic Association of Greater Detroit
879 W. Auburn Rd.
Rochester Hills, MI 48307
When:
Saturday, March 12, 2005
6:00 pm
– END –
Media Contacts:
Anwar Khan
Islamic Relief USA
(818) 216-9723 mobile
(714) 676-1301 fax
**Overview of Crisis***
The Crisis in Darfur has left an estimated 70,000 people dead according to
United Nations figures. Over 1,650,000 people have been driven from their
villages to camps outside large towns in the region, and another 200,000
have crossed the border into Chad.
Islamic Relief Wroldwide’s emergency team began work in Darfur in April 2004,
providing displaced people with food and shelter. Islamic Relief is providing
healthcare, education, water and sanitation services, just to name a few.
One such example is the establishment the Kerinding II camp for displaced
families, many of whom had been living in local schools. The camp now
accommodates 4,000 people, who receive food, plastic sheeting, soap, and
local building materials to build traditional homes.
Islamic Relief USA also sent an in-kind shipment of hygiene kits, emergency
kits, medical supplies, milk powder and first aid modules worth close to $1
million in coordination with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Islamic Relief Worldwide has been working in Sudan since the devastating
floods in Khartoum in 1984. It established a permanent office in the country in
1991. The past 20 years has seen a number of successful projects, including
the opening of schools, the supply of clean water, the opening of clinics and
pharmacies, the provision of vocational training, sponsorship of orphans and
the hugely successful school for impaired hearing.