One billion people around the world live on less than $1 a day and cannot afford to feed themselves or their families. In some of the world’s poorest countries, as many as 25 per cent of children aged under five are malnourished. Although the total number of people living in poverty has fallen, the very poorest communities
continue to sink deeper and deeper into deprivation. Such extreme poverty often means they do not have adequate access to clean water, health care or education facilities.

Tackling severe poverty and hunger is at the core of all of Islamic Relief’s work around the world.

As Islamic Relief marks its 20th anniversary, the growing need for commitment to humanitarian causes is increasingly apparent the world over.

2004 saw many natural and man-made emergencies including the Darfur crisis, the Iran earthquake, war in Iraq, ongoing tensions in Chechnya and Palestine and towards the end of the year, the devastating Tsunami in Southeast Asia

Islamic Relief was able to respond to these situations quickly and effectively, providing relief and hope to many of those affected.

2003 was a year of conflict and crisis which posed a great challenge for the humanitarian sector. Since the end of the Iraq war, Islamic Relief has been distributing food and water as well as reconstructing schools and hospitals.

In Afghanistan, where years of conflict have devastated the country’s infrastructure, Islamic Relief has been helping the Afghan people rebuild their lives.