MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

For 40 years, Islamic Relief has been propelled to save lives and ease suffering. Over decades, we have developed the experience and expertise necessary to be a lifeline to people caught up in disasters and emergencies of all kinds. Alhamdulillah, this equipped Islamic Relief to rise to the challenges of 2023, a year defined by disaster: Global hunger deepened, including in the Horn of Africa, Yemen, and Afghanistan, where Islamic Relief was a lifeline for families worried about where their next meal would come from.

As earthquakes struck parts of Türkiye, Syria, Morocco, and Afghanistan, and floods swept through communities in Libya, we were among the first to respond. When crises erupted in Sudan and Gaza, our dedicated staff performed extraordinary feats of compassion as they delivered life-saving aid even while facing great danger.

Visiting disaster-stricken communities in Türkiye, and in Pakistan, where many still struggled to repair lives shattered by 2022’s deadly flooding, I saw the scale of the challenges firsthand. Many of the crises to which we responded in 2023 continue to devastate lives, while global hunger, climate change, and faltering global governance snatch away precious development gains. In all the years I have served as a humanitarian, I have not experienced a more tumultuous time – nor have I ever felt prouder to be part of the Islamic Relief family, as each part of our global federation has stepped forward to play its part.

Together, we have assisted people stricken by disaster, caught up in conflict, and sinking in poverty. Our incredible colleagues around the world have worked tirelessly to support desperately needed programming in 39 countries this year – even as our hearts break for colleagues enduring unimaginable hardship alongside the communities they serve. None of this work would have been possible without our steadfast supporters, who have enabled us to help more people than ever before in 2023. With your continued support, we aim to increase our impact still further in the year ahead. Jazak’Allah Khair, thank you.