On May 20, then Super-Cyclone Amphan made landfall, hitting regions of Bangladesh and India particularly hard. It is the strongest cyclone to have formed in the Bay of Bengal since 1999. Some 100 people died, and nearly 10 million people across the region are estimated to have been affected. Islamic Relief teams in the area responded immediately to get emergency food aid and other essential items to vulnerable communities.

The cyclone has since passed alhamdulilah, but the need is still immense.

Islamic Relief USA launched this emergency to support critical relief efforts for our sisters and brothers across the region. Please remember them in your dua and in your donations.

Striving for Livelihood Amidst Poverty

A significant percentage of the population in Bangladesh depend on agricultural outputs for income. However, tropical storms and coastal flooding may interfere, only to exacerbate poverty and economic insecurity. Educational opportunities also continue to be of varying quality.

Did you know the following statistics about Bangladesh?

• Nearly 1/3 of the population lives below the poverty line
• One in five people in Bangladesh live in extreme poverty
• Since fall 2017, over 700,000 refugees from Myanmar have fled into Bangladesh (UNICEF)

With all this considered, one thing remains clear: The people of Bangladesh are resilient and, with the support of donors like you, families in need there can access opportunities to break the chains of poverty and move toward success.

As much as we’ve been able to accomplish, there is still so much more to do. If we work together—with YOU—we can make the vision of better Bangladesh a reality for so many more of our sisters and brothers in need.

$100 can provide food aid for a family 

$225 can provide vital relief to emergency survivors

$500 can implement livelihood programs to set up women-led households for success

$1,000 can help build innovative water and sanitation facilities

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Islamic Relief first provided aid in Bangladesh in 1991, in response to a tropical cyclone. Since that, time IR donors have supported efforts for orphans, water and sanitation, food, and more.

IRUSA’s support of projects within Bangladesh range from rooftop gardens that are mitigating climate change, to watershed management, to disaster resilience. As always, we keep both long-term and short-term health and nutrition programs a priority.

Islamic Relief USA staff and affiliates have recently visited a variety of projects in the country.

Here’s just a sampling of our recent efforts for families in need across Bangladesh

• Creating livelihood opportunities for impoverished families in urban areas
• Implementing clean water systems and programming to open easier access
• Supporting refugees and other vulnerable communities through integrated programming

When you make the decision to help fundraise for the effort, you go beyond just thoughts and prayers. This increased IMPACT is priceless, because it means we’re able to meet more needs of those who are waiting for us to lend a helping hand.

And if you're reading this message, it's because you want to go beyond the call the duty. For you, it's not enough to just keep those children in your thoughts and prayer.  You want to double your impact by helping to sponsor these emergency efforts and helping deliver aid to those affected by creating a fundraising page. Get started by creating your page today!

We’re so glad you came. Just scroll to the top of the page and click "become a fundraiser" to setup your page and start promoting to your network via e-mail, social media, and your preferred messaging app. Even with a goal as small as $50, you can provide urgent food aid for families.