Welcome to Islamic Relief Malaysia


AFGHANISTAN Afghanistan has been fought over for centuries because of its strategic location. The former Soviet Union invaded in 1979 and fought defending Afghani forces for a decade until they were defeated. Fighting continued among rival Afghan factions. In 2001 the reigning Taliban regime was overthrown by U.S and Northern Alliance forces. An estimated four million Afghanis took refuge in Pakistan and Iran. Many of these refugees began to return after the fall of the Taliban only to find their homes and villages destroyed. The war-ravaged country has no infrastructure, and returnees are vulnerable to malnutrition and disease. Afghan cities and rural communities are coping with a rapid influx of returning refugees and IDPs. Meantime the levels of chronic malnutrition, food insecurity and poverty remain alarmingly high. According to a UN report almost one-third of the population is dependent upon some form of emergency assistance. The priorities for the Afghani people are food security, health, and basic community infrastructure such as houses, schools, and hospitals. Islamic Relief staff and volunteers worked throughout the recent military campaign, distributing food and clothing across Central and Southern Afghanistan. IR offices in Kabul, Kajaki and Kandahar remained in operation despite the military activity and insecurity that forced other aid agencies to leave. Current activities in Afghanistan include large operational programmes in southern and central regions, including work in the following sectors:- Food security, including implementation of partnership projects with UNWFP. Drought alleviation Health • Education Water & Sanitation Empowerment of Livelihoods IIR has been working in Afghanistan since 1992. Initially working through its Pakistan office, IR’s work has included emergency response to natural disasters, drought relief, and development projects such as water, sanitation, and micro-credit schemes. Having survived twenty-two years of war, four years of drought and ongoing civil conflict, up to 8 million Afghanis now face the threat of famine. The war-ravaged country’s economy and infrastructure are in ruins, and millions of returning refugees find nothing but rubble where their homes once stood. Levels of chronic malnutrition and poverty are alarmingly high. The immediate priorities for the Afghani people are food security, health, and basic community infrastructure such as houses, schools, and hospitals.