JEDDAH, 1 October — The International Islamic Relief Organization (IIRO) yesterday appealed to individuals and Islamic organizations in the Kingdom to help the people of Afghanistan who are experiencing a critical humanitarian crisis. It urged good doers to send their assistance through IIRO local offices or to deposit cash donations in a special local bank account.
IIRO Secretary-General, Dr. Adnan Khalil Basha, said reports received by the Jeddah-based organization from its office in Pakistan, and from UNHCR, speak of a very critical humanitarian situation in Afghanistan. Thousands have left their homes to seek refuge in neighboring countries while one million people have become internally displaced.
Some 3.7 million Afghans, victims of war and drought, are living as refugees in neighboring countries, especially Pakistan and Iran. Thousands of others have left the country over the past two weeks following the suicide attacks in the US.
“The IIRO appeals to philanthropists and good doers in this country, as well as Islamic and international organizations, to extend a helping hand to these distressed people. This assistance will enable IIRO to secure the necessary relief material urgently needed, especially food and shelter, now the harsh winter is approaching,” Dr. Basha said in a statement.
Reports received by IIRO speak of Afghan refugees lining the streets leading to border areas waiting for handouts from travelers. The IIRO said donations could be sent to any of its offices in the Kingdom or deposited in a special bank account.
The IIRO, an affiliate of the Makkah-based Muslim World League, has no offices inside Afghanistan and operates from the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. Last year it distributed SR83 million in emergency aid benefiting more than 20 million people in 34 countries, despite shrinking funds. It also sponsored 51,000 orphaned children in 49 countries. Revenues went down from SR319 million in 1992 to SR145 million last year. In the last three-year period 250 humanitarian projects were closed for lack of funds.
About 80 percent of the 28 million refugees in the world are Muslims, of whom 70 percent are elderly.
Dr. Basha has said that unjust campaigns and attacks against Islam from various quarters were impeding relief activities by IIRO. “Everyone knows this is a humanitarian group seeking to provide food, medical care, education and other assistance to those in need. This is a noble objective requiring cooperation from all to ensure that assistance reaches the needy on time.”
He dismissed as baseless and unfounded some Western media reports saying that part of the charity and relief money may find its way to extremist and terrorist organizations.
