Progress Report Of Earthquake Activities     (As of 06.12.2005) 

The Zakat Foundation Reaches out to Darfur

 

 Since February of 2003, the ongoing struggles of western Sudan has given rise to many calls for support and aid to the refugees of war. Recently The Zakat Foundation of America, a humanitarian organization based in Chicago’s southwest suburbs, has joined in the quest to provide for those who have lost everything.

In response to the dire need for food aid and healthcare, The Zakat Foundation operated from June 11th to 15th of 2007 and successfully provided for over 7,000 people in refugee camps. There are plans to continue this aid as Zakat Foundation receives further funding towards it.

Speaking of the seriousness in providing assistance to the refugees; Zakat Foundation director Khalil Demir said, “In the 21st Century, it is a real human tragedy that is happening in front of the eyes of the world as every day hundreds of children, helpless women and men are dying. It is our duty as a human being to do our utmost to support the refugees of Darfur.”

In the last four and a half years, according to UN figures, over 400,000 people have been killed in the armed conflict and more than 2.5 Million have been made homeless. Humanitarian agencies point to findings of the World Health Organization study done in 2004 showing that in that year alone 70,000 people have died as a result of malnutrition and disease. Organizations such as The Zakat Foundation recognize that this number is one that can be affected directly through distributions such as the one in June.