The Scottish Government’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund (HEF), and Islamic Relief has helped over 7,000 flood survivors in Garissa County, Kenya to rebuild their lives following devastating floods in 2024.
In spring of 2024, Garissa County – one of the two most impacted counties – was affected by floods that claimed the lives of 267 people, as well as massive property damage, loss of possessions and displacement of over 380,000 people.
With the help of the Scottish Government’s Humanitarian Emergency Fund (HEF), Islamic Relief supported survivors with multi-purpose cash transfers to help with healthcare, food, school related costs, and farming to help rebuild lives.
During such disasters as floods, it is reported that gender-based violence increases due to the pressures on men as being seen as the household providers. The additional burdens that disasters place upon them can lead to stress which can breed violence, which is often inflicted upon their spouses.
To combat this rise in domestic violence, Islamic Relief has been training up local people as gender champions. So far, with the help of HEF, Islamic Relief has been able to train 200 champions, 122 women and 78 men. They are taught about gender-based issues, like domestic violence, and their causes. Men are included in this process, so they too can understand the issues affecting women in their community and advocate for them.
The champions were trained on how to communicate and counsel survivors in cases of gender based related incidents as well as increasing people’s understanding, support for survivors, and reporting incidences of violence.
Hassan Abdi Abdille, Islamic Relief Kenya’s Country Director said: “When we initially started this programme there was some resistance from men in the community. Many thought it was a foreign concept or ideology that was intrusive to their own area. But also, it was men who had committed domestic violence, further explaining their resistance.
“But by bringing them on board during the training and making them a part of it, it helped demonstrate why this initiative was so important and got them on side. This in turn meant the men involved in our training programme would then communicate these
messages to the other men in the community. We also brought in religious leaders into the process, as many would refer to their local imams on issues such as these. Gaining the support of imams helped people buy-in to our initiative that has backing in the local mosques.
“We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Scottish Government’s, Humanitarian Emergency fund for supporting this project and helping to transform the lives of so many, we are deeply thankful.”
Nadeem Baqir, Islamic Relief UK’s Regional Community Fundraising Manager in Scotland said: “We are extremely grateful for the incredible support of the Scottish Government whose contribution will help so many people to rebuild their lives after the traumas of losing homes, loved ones and means to make a living due to the impact of devastating floods. “This project will transform so many lives, and once again we see the generosity and kindness of the Scottish Government’s Humanitarian emergency fund, which is a lifeline to many struggling around the world. We thank the Scottish Government for this amazing support.”
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Notes to editors:
If you would like more information or a spokesperson , please contact Jonaid Jilani: [email protected]; 07872 403534 or William Jones: [email protected]; 07543 221746
Background
The Humanitarian Emergency Fund provides aid in the aftermath of a crisis.
The HEF panel is made up of eight leading humanitarian aid organisations in Scotland who advise and access the fund: Mercy Corps, Oxfam, British Red Cross, Islamic Relief, SCIAF, Christian Aid, Tearfund and Save the Children.
Recent HEF funding for humanitarian emergencies has included responses to crisis situations in Beirut, Ethiopia and South Sudan.
About Islamic Relief
Islamic Relief is a faith-inspired, development and humanitarian agency working to transform and save the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in over 40 countries. Islamic Relief assists people according to need and does not discriminate in any way.
Set up in Birmingham in 1984 by a group of volunteers, we have assisted over 117 million people all over the world. We’re saving lives and empowering people to lift themselves out of poverty in over 40 countries – from Bangladesh to Bosnia, Pakistan to Palestine, Kenya to Kosovo. Islamic Relief is on the ground in some of the world’s most dangerous and difficult places – including Syria and Yemen – strengthening the most marginalised communities to withstand conflict and natural disasters and to build a brighter future. We also support vulnerable people in the UK in partnership with local charities and organisations.
