Over 600 million people in Muslim-majority countries face food shortages this Ramadan, Islamic Relief reveals  

More than 600 million people in Muslim-majority countries do not have enough food as the holy month of Ramadan begins, according to data compiled by Islamic Relief.  

About one third of these – over 200 million people – are suffering from severe hunger and undernutrition. Nearly 60 million children under five years old in these countries are suffering from stunted growth, which results from chronic undernutrition and affects a child’s mental and physical development for the rest of their lives.  

A deadly combination of climate change, conflict and inequality means that hunger is increasing globally, and many Muslims around the world will mark Ramadan without enough food. For many Muslims this will be the toughest Ramadan ever. 

  • In Gaza, starvation is being used as a weapon of war and the Israeli bombardment and blockade has cut off food supplies for most families. Young infants are dying from malnutrition, people have been murdered as they try to access food aid, and a quarter of the population are now just one step away from famine.  
  • In Sudan, almost a year of brutal war has left nearly half the population – 17.7 million people – facing crisis levels of food insecurity. Farmers are too scared to plant or harvest crops due to attacks by armed groups, and the fighting has forced millions of people from their homes and restricted humanitarian aid.  
  • Extreme weather events such as drought or floods have pushed millions into hunger. In Somalia, around 25% of the population are at crisis levels of hunger. In Afghanistan, the worst drought in 30 years has fuelled hunger and left over 23 million people in need of aid.  

In Somalia, 85-year-old Adan Dhaqane Hussein fled his farmland to try and find food aid. A blind father, he is struggling to feed his family. He told us, “I spend most of my time looking for food for my family. I am living in this camp and life is very challenging. This Ramadan I do not have food to break my fast and we have nothing at the house. We pray for Allah and we are always under His care.” 

In Gaza, an Islamic Relief staff member, whose name is withheld due to the security situation, says: “Most people are going whole days without eating and young children are starving to death as famine looms. Desperate families are scrambling for food aid and have been shot and killed while trying to get a bag of flour for their children.” 

Every year during Ramadan, Islamic Relief distributes food packs for vulnerable families. This year, Islamic Relief is aiming to provide Ramadan packs to over 1.1 million people in 32 countries.  

Affan Cheema, Islamic Relief Worldwide’s Director of International Programmes, says:

“Recent reports by the UN World Food Programme show that hunger is once again rising around the world. It is heartbreaking that so many people will have so little to eat this Ramadan. As Muslims, fasting during Ramadan allows us to empathise with those for whom going long periods of time without food is not a choice. It enables us to appreciate the great blessing of having food and clean water, but hundreds of millions of Muslims around the world do not have this and are struggling to survive. 

“There is enough food in this world for everyone, and it is inexcusable that hunger is rising again. After years of progress on tackling global hunger, the number of people going hungry has doubled again in the last few years due to rising inequality since the Covid-19 pandemic on top of climate change and conflict. We need world leaders to step up action and prioritise ending hunger once and for all.”  

During Ramadan, Muslims traditionally fast with empathy for those who don’t have enough to eat. Those who don’t have enough food or have health issues can be exempt from fasting – though many Muslims who face adversity still fast and draw spiritual strength in the face of humanitarian crisis. 

More than 345 million people worldwide are currently living in Phase 3 (“Crisis”), Phase 4 (“Emergency”), or Phase 5 (“Catastrophe”) levels of food insecurity, according to the scale used by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). Of these Islamic Relief analysis shows that around 37% – about 127 million – are living in Muslim-majority countries.  

In addition, millions of other Muslims in non-Muslim-majority countries where Islamic Relief works – such as in Ethiopia, Kenya and Myanmar – are also suffering from severe hunger as Ramadan begins this year. 

Islamic Relief is appealing for funds to support its Ramadan distributions this year, and is also calling on international governments to invest more in long-term food security and climate adaptation – especially in poor countries that are worst affected by climate change and war.  

Notes  

Figures are based on analysis of latest available data, including from the IPC and “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2023” published by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), World Food Programme, Unicef, the World Health Organisation and the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

new director

Director of Network and Resource Development

Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.

Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.

Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.

Nadeem Azhar

General Counsel

Nadeem joined Islamic Relief Worldwide in September 2022. He has worked in the charitable sector for over a decade.

He studied Modern History and Politics at Manchester University, and at the University of Law in London before qualifying as a solicitor in 2011.

Nadeem is an experienced corporate, commercial and governance lawyer, having worked with various faith-based and grant making charities as well those in health and education settings. He was a partner at a law firm in London before moving in-house where he focused on setting up and restructuring charities and social enterprises.

Most recently, Nadeem was Lead Counsel at Mind, a leading mental health charity, where he co-authored a new federation agreement, revamped legal processes, and played a major role in developing its strategic and fundraising partnerships.

Nadeem has been a charity trustee for the Seafarers Charity, as well as many grant-making bodies and theatre companies.

Adnan Hafiz

Director of Network and Resource Development

Adnan joined Islamic Relief in 2004 as a regional fundraiser in the UK. He worked in multiple roles over 10 years at Islamic Relief UK, including setting up the first digital team and leading the growth of digital fundraising and engagement. Adnan also led numerous fundraising and marketing campaigns, which played a significant part in the growth of Islamic Relief UK.

Having moved to Islamic Relief Worldwide in 2014, Adnan has held different roles that have helped grow Islamic Relief’s global digital footprint into new geographic territories, supporting Islamic Relief members with their digital and marketing growth as well as developing new products and initiatives for the Islamic Relief family.

Adnan graduated in Industrial Design and Technology from Loughborough University. He has since completed an Advanced Diploma in Business Administration from Durham University and a Diploma in Digital Marketing from the Institute of Data and Marketing.

Board of Directors
Javed Akhtar

Director of Finance

Javed Akhtar has more than a decade of experience at Islamic Relief, having worked in a similar role between 2003-2014. In that role he strove to implement wide-ranging financial and accounting processes which aided in the transparent nature in which Islamic Relief now operates.

Javed also has diverse experience across the private sector, having worked at American chemicals and pharmaceutical giant DuPont, shipping firm FedEX and technology consultancy company Accenture. In all his roles, he prioritises using the latest technologies to improve monitoring and reporting at every level. Javed’s commitment to embracing digital end-to-end technology, enhancing accountability to our stakeholders and promoting financial transparency is ensuring that we remain at the forefront of financial developments in the sector.

By training, Javed is a chartered accountant with a Master’s degree in NGO Management with Charity Accounting and Financial Management from Cass Business School.
Board of Directors
Affan Cheema  

Director of International Programmes

Affan Cheema is an experienced leader who has spent 25 years working in the international aid sector on poverty eradication in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. He has worked in fast onset emergencies, protracted crisis and development environments whilst working for Islamic Relief Worldwide and Care International. He is also a trustee of South West International Development Network (SWIDN).

Through his career Affan has held numerous roles including institutional fundraising, programme and grant management, and programme quality assurance.  Affan’s leadership has helped Islamic Relief Worldwide secure the highly coveted Core Humanitarian Standard (CHS), seen as the sector’s premier benchmark for operational excellence.

Affan completed his BA in Economics and Geography from University of London (School of Oriental and African Studies) and his MSc in Development Administration and Planning from the University of Bristol. He is PRINCE2 qualified, is a keen sportsman and recently co-edited a book entitled -Islam and International Development: Insights for working with Muslim Communities-.
Board of Directors
Dr Hossam Said

Managing Director, Humanitarian Academy for Development (HAD)

For nearly three decades Dr Hossam has provided the strategic vision to manage, lead and develop a range of international humanitarian interventions around the world.

At the start of his career, Dr Hossam served on the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Medical Syndicate, before moving to Islamic Relief Worldwide to manage the core global business activities as International Programmes Director.

During this time the organisation increased its global reach, gaining both domestic and international repute and credibility. Dr Hossam has also served on the Islamic Relief Worldwide Board of Management and Executive Committee for the past 15 years; sharing responsibility for strategic organisational development and the change management process, whilst forging strong relationships with many other charities.

Dr Hossam gained an MBA from Aston Business School in 2004 and graduated as a Medical Doctor from Cairo University in 1981.
Board of Directors
Martin Cottingham  

Director of External Relations and Advocacy

Martin Cottingham joined Islamic Relief in 2012 as IRUK Media Relations Manager, and was appointed Head of Communications in 2015 before taking up his current position as Director of External Relations and Advocacy for Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Martin has helped Islamic Relief to increase its mainstream media profile and expand its campaigning work, producing hard-hitting advocacy reports on floods in Pakistan (2011) famine in Somalia (2012) disaster risk reduction (2013) and aid to Afghanistan (2014). He has over 20 years’ experience working in media, communications and marketing roles for international development and environmental charities.

Martin graduated from the University of London with a degree in English and Drama (1982-85) then trained as a journalist with a postgraduate diploma at City University (1986-87). He has previously worked for Christian Aid as Editor of Christian Aid News and Media Relations Manager (1988-97) for Oxfam as Regional Campaigns Manager (1997-2000) and at the Soil Association as Marketing Director (2001-2006), as well as working for a wide range of organisations as a freelance writer, researcher and communications consultant.

Tufail Hussain

Director of Islamic Relief UK

Tufail Hussain has 17 years’ experience in the humanitarian and development sector, leading on marketing and fundraising campaigns for several organisations before joining Islamic Relief UK in 2016 as Deputy Director. Tufail was appointed Director of Islamic Relief UK in 2019 and in 2021 provided valuable leadership as interim CEO of Islamic Relief Worldwide.

Tufail is driven by a passion for empowering disadvantaged youth and mentors a number of young people. He also works to strengthen engagement between British Muslims and wider society. Under his leadership, Islamic Relief UK has significantly increased its income and developed successful partnerships with communities across the country. He has travelled around the world to raise awareness of major emergencies such as the Syria, Yemen and Afghanistan crises and the floods in Pakistan and Sudan.

A father to 5 daughters and a son, Tufail is also a sports enthusiast and passionate Liverpool FC supporter. Tufail has run the London Marathon twice, raising over £35,000 for humanitarian causes.

Before joining Islamic Relief he was CEO of Orphans in Need, where he oversaw a new strategy that increased income from £2 million to £9 million in 3 years and opened up new UK and international offices. Tufail is also a trustee of the Muslim Charities Forum and a Director of TIC International (Islamic Relief Worldwide’s clothes recycling and trading arm).
Waseem Ahmad

Chief Executive Officer

Waseem Ahmad joined the Islamic Relief family over 24 years ago, serving as Programme Officer in the Balochistan province of south-western Pakistan before becoming Head of Programmes in Pakistan. Waseem then moved to Oxfam and Tearfund before returning to Islamic Relief to establish our mission in Malawi. Later serving as Head of Programme Funding and Partnerships, Waseem led the response to major crises across the globe, including the East Africa drought, Pakistan earthquake and the Indian Ocean Tsunami.

Waseem then served for nearly 6 years as our Director of International Programmes, during which time the charity secured and retained the coveted Core Humanitarian Standard certification in recognition of the quality of our programming. He was appointed CEO of Islamic Relief in May 2021.

With a special interest in community mobilisation and infrastructure, Waseem received an MSc in Project Planning and Management from the University of Bradford, as well as an MSc in Economics from Arid Agriculture University in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

Waseem has also worked for Lepra Health in Action and is a member of the International Civil Society Centre’s Board of Trustees. The father-of-3 enjoys walking and playing football, and is a keen birdwatcher.