Assalamu alaikum, Mohammed.
There is one story from the Philippines that I can't get out of my head. As Typhoon Haiyan raged, floodwater swept a family away and tossed dangerous debris around them. A sharp piece of wood pierced the youngest girl. The mother tried to hold her as the storm surge was ripping them apart. The girl's last words:
"Ma, just let go ... save yourself." The mother could only watch as the small, beloved body was swept away through Tacloban.
Our prayers are with them. We were not there to help this mother, or to save this little girl. But we can be there now, for others who need help and who are trying to hang on for their lives. Please, send them relief.
The largest typhoon ever recorded hit the Philippines last Friday. TEN THOUSAND people are feared dead in one town alone—some buried alive when evacuation centers collapsed.
As of Monday, about 659,300 people were still displaced, and many of them have no homes to go to.
We all saw it coming—the world watched as this typhoon hit the Philippines. It hit an area that was struck just last month with a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that was the deadliest earthquake in the Philippines in 23 years. May Allah (swt) help them! Some families were still staying in makeshift shelters when Friday's super typhoon hit.
The Philippines government has asked for international help.
We want to respond with aid!
We are asking people of all faiths and all backgrounds
to help the people of the Philippines in their time of need.
I am asking YOU, Mohammed ... please join with us to help the typhoon survivors.
Footage from an ABS-CBN television crew showed a woman, crying:
"I have no house, I have no clothes. I don't know how I will restart my life. I am so confused. I don't know what happened to us. We are appealing for help. Whoever has a good heart, I appeal to you please help."
—People can't find any food.
—Children are drinking contaminated water.
—Hospitals have run out of supplies.
—There are still bodies in the streets.
—The smell of death is in the air.
—We've seen time and again that illnesses quickly follow.
Today is the day when Allah (swt) delivered Musa (as) and his people from their enemy. Our prophet Muhammad (saw) fasted on this day, the day of Ashura. As we remember his way of life and his sacrifices today, let us help relieve the people of the Philippines from their suffering—what sacrifice can you make now?
Please don't wait. In the Philippines, amid the disaster, people need your help. They need hope!
A tragedy can happen anywhere, at anytime, to any of us. Let us act as if they were our families.
Please, click the button below, and donate now.
Sincerely,
Anwar Khan
Chief Operating Officer
Islamic Relief USA
P.S. Islamic Relief's advance teams have already arrived in the Philippines. Will you do your part to help families who need us?
|
