Muslim Aid UK is pleased to announce that it has obtained permission from Myanmar Government authorities to deliver humanitarian relief to the internally displaced persons in the conflict-affected areas in Rakhine State. Following this progress, Muslim Aid has opened offices in Yangon and Sittwe.

In December 2012, more than 300,000 people were affected in 15 districts in Sri Lanka due to severe weather conditions with floods and landslides in many parts of the island. Many of those who were displaced due to the inclement weather have returned to their homes. However, some are still dependent on the assistance given to them, as life is slowly getting back in order.

Muslim Aid Sri Lanka distributed food and non food items to those affected which included:

As the world commemorates World Food Day today (16th October 2012), Muslim Aid joins the international community in addressing the causes of hunger, malnutrition and poverty through programmes that strengthen food security and agricultural production in developing countries.

Lack of hygiene and sanitation has resulted in the outbreak of cholera in Sierra Leone, infecting over 10,000 people and causing deaths of hundreds, since the beginning of this year. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) the “rate of new cases has accelerated rapidly since the beginning of August.” The President of Sierra Leone has declared the escalating cholera epidemic a “humanitarian crisis”. There is an urgent need to contain this disease and treat those infected, as the death toll continues to increase.

Muslim Aid is distributing Ramadan food packs in 40 countries around the world. Sherin Al-Sheikh Ahmed is the Muslim Aid Regional Desk Manager for Middle East and Eastern Europe. Here, Sherin reports from the Al-Shati refugee camp in Gaza where Muslim Aid is distributing food packs to people in need. She speaks with some of the camps residents and gains an insight in to life in Gaza.

Keeping on par with second Millennium Development Goal and with one of the main objectives of Muslim Aid , providing “Education For All” which aims at improving access to elementary and primary education, Muslim Aid Sri Lanka ceremoniously opened a pre-school in Minuwangete in the Kurunegala district.

Educate to Eradicate Child Labour*

The International Labour Organisation (ILO) initiated campaign, World Day against Child Labour (June 12), will focus this year on the protection of the rights of children from child labour and other human rights violations. According to ILO, “Child labour refers to a subset of children’s work that is injurious to children and that should be targeted for elimination.”

Muslim Aid has urged the international community to come together on the eve of World Hunger Day to resolve the problem of food insecurity, echoing concerns from the recent G8 Summit about the poor level of involvement by developed countries and leading humanitarian organisations in assuaging hunger and malnutrition in the developing world.

A massive earthquake of 8.7 magnitude struck Indonesia, 495km from Aceh this morning.

Muslim Aid Indonesia field office has reported that communications are down and road networks have been severely disrupted. A tsunami warning issued by Indonesian authorities has been escalated to alarm and the area is being evacuated. Muslim Aid staff are on the ground conducting an emergency needs assessment.