Looking back at 2011, I can think of so many challenges, countless national and international issues, big disasters, mighty political changes especially in the Arab end of the world, shameful failures, marvellous successes, needful lessons and incredible ties. On one hand, the year brought millions of happiness and jubilations for some people but on the other, millions of people could not make to some basics of their lives. By in large a great number of world population ended this year below the

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Throughout my work for more than a decade in the humanitarian sector I have been to countless charity gatherings, functions, events and workshops. I have conducted and hosted a number of fund raising events for Islamic Relief but the round-off dinner arranged by Charity Week (CW) Scotland team in Edinburgh on 12 November was one of unforgettable events of my recent past. I was invited to the dinner to observe the gets and gains of CW 2011 and deliver my message to the volunteers. Charity Week

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For the past nine years, I have been actively involved in Islamic Relief; from fundraising to hosting events to taking part in projects around the world. As much as I enjoy what I do, my role is not possible without the help of Islamic Relief volunteers. With so many places to visit and people to meet, it is only with the support of the dedicated volunteers that I am able to be so involved with projects abroad. Yesterday I came back to Scotland after visiting Pakistan for the last 3 weeks. Duri

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In the summer of 2010, Pakistan was hit by severe floods which, according to UN was‘the greatest humanitarian crisis in recent history’. I was able, as part of Islamic Relief, to visit the flood stricken areas in Khyber Pukhtoon khawa, Punjab and Sindh to help the people and see the damage. 21 million people were affected by the floods that swept through the country, leaving millions without homes and families. I have been regularly visiting Pakistan to see how the country had progr

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It’s a bright, sunny day in London. Looking out of my hotel room window, I notice every minute there is at least one plane taking off and landing at Heathrow, London. Some passengers probably going on holidays, some back to work and others may be heading home to their loved one's. I am also going to be flying this evening back to East Africa. My flight will take me to Nairobi and on Monday I will depart to Mogadishu, Somalia to witness the relief work of Islamic Relief. I will spend my Eid

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Today is World Humanitarian Day, a day set to raise awareness about Aid workers, their work, their contribution in helping the needy, the challenges they face in raising funds, accessing disaster areas, delivering relief and development programs locally and/or around the world. I am also part of the International humanitarian community which is made up of approx half a million aid workers, saving lives, empowering the deprived with skills and knowledge, giving them respect and dignity and makin

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Sat, 13th Aug 2011  9am- On our way to Griftu Hospital, Wajir West- I am getting use to travelling now on these sandy road tracks, a lot bumpy but what is scary and equally surprising for me is the great speed at which my driver Edin is shifting this 4 x 4. The whole route once again is very dusty and extremely hot. There is very little shelter from the sun. All the tree leaves have dried up hence no tree shadows. It won’t take much time for my body to dehydrate out there.

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Today my plan is to visit one of Islamic Relief’s water programme site here in the Northern Kenya. After early morning briefings at our regional office in Wajir I am setting off on our land rover 4 x 4 with a translator and driver towards Hadado, a severely drought-hit area approximately 90km west of Wajir. On the outskirts of Wajir Abdul, my translator points out the location of ‘Wajir Animal livestock market’ located in Barwako in the actual Wajir town and with sadness he e

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Thursday 5am- It is an early morning start, heading to Wilson airport, Nairobi flying to Wajir on ECHO flight. I am the first passenger to arrive in the car park of the airport. Apart from the security people no one else is here. Even the single check-in office is locked. Zabloon, Jessay and Elvis, our staff from Wajir office are also travelling with me on this 40 seater plane. The landscape looks beautiful, green fields, forest, can see movement of vehicles on the dusty roads. 10am-

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Well I was hoping to hear some good news this morning about my departure to Wajir, North Kenya but no luck. I am told due to heavy air passenger load I am added on a waiting list. The frustrating thing is that there is only one flight to wajir per day and a long waiting list. I needed a local mobile sim so heading out to safaricom office, the main mobile network provider. Orange is also here. Back in my office, time to edit and upload a video blog I made of Islamic Relief's CEO Saleh Saeed

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Once again Africa has called me. This time it is East Africa which is suffering droughts, famine and hunger. I have been monitoring the media reports and was expecting a call from my Islamic Relief UK office requesting me to head out to Kenya and Somalia, witness the painful and grave situation, speak to refugees in the north Kenya and internally displaced people in Mogadishu, Somalia. It is said to be worst droughts since 1950. The UN estimates that some 12 million people are already faced wi

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Our Scotland branch of Islamic Relief will be marking the anniversary of the devastating Pakistan floods with an event in the Glasgow city council on July 25, where I will be thanking the Scottish public for their generous response to the devastating floods disaster. I have just returned from Pakistan where I saw amazing examples of how the Scottish public’s support has been used. A young girl named Khatija who was born into the horror of homelessness in the middle of the floods now has a

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Our Scottish Government is funding Islamic Relief’s microfinance programme in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. I am personally monitoring the programme and have met a number of programme beneficiaries during my past few visits to Rawalpindi.  I am very pleased to see that Islamic Relief has introduced a new technological mechanism to take pictures and make photocopies for borrowers applying for microfinance services. For this purpose, webcams are being used to take pictures of MF borrowers

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With the Scottish elections now over, I would like to take this opportunity to warm heartedly congratulate Humza Yousaf (SNP) and Hanzala Malik (Labour) the 2 new members of the Scottish Parliament. I have known both since 2003 and recognise their own personal achievements and contributions in overseas relief and development work for those in most need of it around the world. Using their skills, knowledge and experience both have offered a great deal of generosity and support and put into a

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Having spent 2 weeks in Pakistan I am on the PIA flight PK 785 today heading back to UK. I had 2 main reasons to visit Pakistan this time; to show BBC (look East) Islamic Relief’s floods related rehabilitation and reconstruction work funded by Luton community in Khyber Pakhtoonkhawa and secondly to participate in Islamic Relief Pakistan’s next 5 years strategy workshops. I can happily confirm that BBC team along with 2 other prominanent Luton community members were much pleased t

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