ARF’s Emergency Aid to the Most Vulnerable

African Relief Fund (ARF) assists people who are forced to leave their homes because of sudden political, social, and environmental events. These people are called Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

IDPs have no choice but to relocate to where they have no home, no employment, or any way to generate income. Sometimes they end up in a refugee camp, but often they are stranded. Their journeys are exhausting and dangerous. Some are separated from their families, and many lose family members along the way. The areas they are forced to settle in are often remote or inaccessible, making it difficult to provide relief aid and disaster relief.

In many cases, the homes of IDPs become conflict zones overnight. But more often, climate events play a factor in forcing people to migrate. The drought in Africa has affected the livelihoods of thousands of people to date. Entire farming, fishing, and pastoral communities have abandoned their homes because rivers and lakes are rapidly drying up. The situation has declined over the years as drought in Africa has become more common due to global warming.

Other environmental events that displace farming communities include floods and locusts. In Somalia, thousands of farmers were forced to move in search of assistance when locusts destroyed their crops. Floods are also a common problem here, causing widespread displacement throughout the country.

You can help! Donate towards food parcels, shelter, healthcare, and other essential relief items now.

The Journey is Dangerous, and the Destination Unknown

The crises that force people to move often occur without warning. The people affected are caught off-guard and do not even realise that they are now IDPs – they are just fleeing to escape life-threatening circumstances. With no time to prepare, they leave with just a few clothes and belongings and little or no food and water.

The situation is exacerbated in conflict zones, where ARF Emergency Aid workers have to exercise extreme caution. Here, the danger is as real to our relief workers as it is to the IDPs themselves. We ask you to pray for us and the safety of everyone caught in the crisis. May Allah (SWT) protect us all and reward you for your support.