On Monday, November 21, a devastating earthquake struck the populous province of Java. More than 200 people have been killed and thousands more injured, with many reported missing. According to officials, more than 22,000 homes have been destroyed, leaving 58,000 or so people displaced from their homes.
Islamic Relief has deployed its emergency response team and is working with local partners to distribute immediate needs on the ground, including tarpaulin for shelter. Hygiene kits and other essential non-food items will also be distributed as needs are assessed.
Tropical Storm Nalgae, or Paeng, made landfall over the weekend with sustained winds of 60 mph. Nalgae is the 16th tropical cyclone to have affected the country this season, with more than six times the daily average of rainfall for the month of October.
Nearly 100 people have lost their lives, while even more have been injured or deemed missing persons. Damage to infrastructure and agriculture have, combined, estimated to over $20 million dollars in losses. And with the extensive damage to roads and bridges, emergency response efforts have been made difficult.
Nevertheless, Islamic Relief is on the ground providing immediate relief to families in need. Similar to our last emergency effort for Tropical Storm Megi (Agaton), we are working with our local partner network to provide food aid as well as access to clean water and sanitation. With your support, we can help our brothers and sisters in the Philippines.
Families across Pakistan are trying to cope as severe monsoon floods have damaged homes, buildings, roads, and infrastructure across the country, especially in Baluchistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab. The impact has been tremendous: Some 35,000 homes have been destroyed, but worse, more than 400 people have been killed and 500 people have been injured, and the toll keeps rising.
Islamic Relief’s global family and partnerships—including local staff in more than three dozen countries—maximize IRUSA’s ability to respond to urgent situations with speed and efficiency. We also maintain the highest standards of best practices, dignity, and cultural sensitivity, and we make sure that our response aligns with survivors’ needs immediately, for the longer-term, or both!
IRUSA’s emergency aid efforts can include distribution of items such as food, water, financial aid, and more. Construction of temporary shelters and providing vital medical aid are often priorities too. And when applicable, we work with community groups on the ground to assess what we can do to help with longer-term recovery, rebuilding, and revitalization efforts.
In the United States specifically, IRUSA’s Disaster Response Team (DRT) serve as first responders for emergencies. From natural disasters like hurricanes and wildfires to tragedies like the Pulse and Parkland shootings, the DRT team continues to be one of the first humanitarian teams nationwide to lend a helping hand to people in their most trying hours.
Read below to learn more about our latest emergency responses and how you can help survivors.