Welcome to Salaam Foundation’s new series: The Humanitarian News Round-up. Every month, the team will be putting together a collection of news from around the world related to the humanitarian sector.
For the first edition of the new series, we will be doing a little overview of the global humanitarian situation in 2024.
According to the Global Humanitarian Overview of 2024, there are nearly 300 million people around the world who will need humanitarian assistance and protection, due to conflicts, climate emergencies and other drivers. The crisis is big and seems insurmountable but every little effort being made makes a difference.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) says that in the coming year, 74.1 million people will need humanitarian assistance in East and Southern Africa. The crisis in Sudan accounts for almost 40 per cent of this total. The war happening in Sudan is causing insecurity for millions of people. Other countries of need in the African continent include Burkina Faso and Niger.
When looking at the genocide taking place in Palestine, the number of Palestinians killed in five weeks alone was equivalent to almost 60 per cent of the total global number of civilians killed in 2022.
One of the biggest concerns in Gaza is winter preparedness activities starting in October. The ongoing genocide makes the already precarious situation even more so. Winter is also the rainy season in Gaza, which leads to flooding in some areas. This will further worsen the already dire living conditions. Key interventions are required immediately.
The UNOCHA report says in Syria and Yemen, the Humanitarian Response Plans for 2024 have focused the response on the most urgent humanitarian needs, whilst highlighting the urgent need for a complementary development response.
Salaam Foundation’s Work
The work Salaam Foundation does varies in many different areas. Here is a list of some of activities from around the world as a starting point for our round-ups which will include an update of global news as well as updates of our work.
Palestine: Salaam Foundation has been working in Palestine since inception on many different projects. The current Palestine Response project is centred around the Gaza Kitchen which is operating in North Gaza. The Kitchen consists of an open-air kitchen which feeds tens of thousands of families monthly. The project expanded to include a delivery service to displaced families who are unable to reach the kitchen. There are further expansions in place for the kitchen which include winter clothes and fun days for kids to help with the mental trauma.
Farming in South Africa: Salaam Foundation currently runs a Farm in the City and Farm in the Vaal project. The Farm in the City is a social entrepreneurship project based on hydroponic and organic vegetable production. It consists of several greenhouse tunnels and a farm stall and garden around the premises. A borehole was dug on the premises which meets the water requirements needed to sustain the plant life.
Farm in the Vaal: (Farm on the Dam) is a farm in the Free State province that includes 100 hectares of land. It is a cattle and sheep facility designed to rear and produce high quality beef and mutton for those in need. The farm helps to supply meals to the needy. The farm has expanded to include many fruit and vegetable trees. The project is in conjunction with Ummah Heart.
Syria/Turkey: Following the earthquake that took place in 2023, Salaam Foundation has been working on disaster relief in the region for the earthquake victims. This has expanded to working with orphans in providing stationery packs and madrassah support.
Yemen: In Yemen, the work has been centred in the Hadhramaut Province and the city of Tarim. There have been several interventions to cover both immediate and long-term needs. These have included a sustainable livestock project consisting of a small goat breeding flock which was trialled in 2023. Land has also been secured to begin a sustainable farming project. Salaam Foundation has also supplied a scholar transport vehicle to the Tarim Centre for the Blind which will be used to transport learners to get their Islamic education. Land has also been purchased to begin a farming project in Yemen.
Madagascar and Lesotho: In Lesotho, Salaam Foundation has been working alongside Sheikh Moosa Pitso, in establishing a skills training centre, feeding centre and place of prayer. The Lesotho project is another one of Salaam Foundation’s long-term, self-sustaining investment project of Salaam Foundation that seeks to maximise the potential outcome of charitable contributions.
In 2021, Madagascar faced a devastating famine as a result of climate change and the worsening effects of global warming. Due to the famine, food security in Madagascar was greatly threatened and Salaam Foundation decided to start a project to send life-saving relief to the country and its people who were in desperate need of the aid.
To support the work being done by Salaam Foundation:
Salaam Foundation
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