A devastating earthquake has hit Haiti in which tens of thousands of people may have died in this already-poor country, and many more will be affected by trauma and disease.
12 UK-based Muslim-led NGOs have started appeals to raise funds for the relief effort. They include Al Mustafa Trust International, Helping Hands Worldwide, Human Appeal International, Human Relief Foundation, Islamic Aid, Islamic Help, Islamic Relief, Muslim Aid, Muslim Charity Helping the Needy, Muslim Global Relief, Muslim Hands and Ummah Welfare Trust. Others will continue joining in the next hours and days.
Dr Hany El Banna, Chairman of the Muslim Charities Forum (MCF), thanked the Muslim Charities and the public for their concern and support for the people in need in Haiti. "This reflects the maturity of the Muslim Charitable Sector. It is going beyond the sectarian, racial and religious boundaries. This is the true spirit of Islamic Humanitarianism."
The MCF has offered to host a meeting between UK-based Muslim-led organisations and international NGOs to discuss issues in depth.
The MCF is an umbrella organisation for Muslim-led International NGOs based in the UK. It was set up in 2007 with the aim of providing a capacity building resource and advocacy platform for its members.
For more information:
Abdurahman Sharif
Tel. 0207 368 1645 (ext. 1273)
E-mail. sharif@muslimcharitiesforum.org.uk
Web. www.muslimcharitiesforum.org.uk