The following is an excerpt from an article posted in the Rocky Mount TELEGRAM in July 2017:
“A Virginia-based nonprofit humanitarian agency is teaming up with a faith-based organization to help flood victims in Edgecombe County who lost housing last year due to Hurricane Matthew.
Islamic Relief USA has joined forces with the N.C. Conference of the United Methodist Church Disaster Response to have volunteers be a part of an extensive recovery project to rebuild homes destroyed by flood waters. Islamic Relief USA officials said this project is different from prior disaster relief projects it has undertaken because the focus this time is on long-term recovery instead of preparedness, mitigation and response.
Hani Hamwi, manager of Islamic Relief USA’s Disaster Response Team, said the N.C. Conference is guiding the humanitarian agency through the process of demolishing homes and rebuilding them. Hamwi said the nonprofit group is focusing on rebuilding homes in Princeville, which was one of the harder hit areas in Eastern North Carolina damaged by floodwaters. In addition to flooded homes, some people had to be rescued by boat from rooftops.
“Our goal for coming down here is to get people back into their homes, so they can start putting their lives back together,” Hamwi said. ‘Living a year or longer in hotels and FEMA trailers is long enough. It’s about time for people to get back in their homes.’ ”
Read the full post on Rocky Mount TELEGRAM
