Zara lives in Chechnya with her husband, 3 children and 5 members of her husband’s family.
Though she works as a nurse, and the other adults in her family of 10 are also working, Zara acknowledges that the family are often short on food.
Rent takes up a large part of their income, as do the travel and accommodation costs associated with annual medical trips required to get her eldest daughter treated for burn injuries she sustained as a young child.
“Alhamdulillah, we receive social support to pay for the surgeries, but we have to partially cover travel and accommodation expenses. So, with the income we have, it is really difficult,” Zara, 34, says.
The ‘goodness of these blessed days’
Meat is a rarity in Zara’s home. “Without it, you feel weak. These periods are hard to bear,” she says.
“Glurbanah [Chechen for Eid al-Adha] is a great holiday for us. These days are very important for all Muslims. We cannot afford to make a sacrifice every year, and this is upsetting, but the holiday itself is a great event for us.
“It is the time receive support and enjoy the goodness of these blessed days.”
Islamic Relief’s qurbani food parcels help support the health of Zara’s family
“I divided the meat we received into 4 parts. 3 of them, I will use to make soups for our big family. I have also prepared 1 small pack of minced meat to make pasta with,” explains Zara, whose family also receives a food parcel from Islamic Relief during Ramadan.
“I would like to say thank you to all the donors who answer our needs twice a year. I am very grateful to them for their compassion.”
For families like Zara’s, Islamic Relief’s qurbani parcels remove the burden of obtaining healthy, nutritious food during Eid al-Adha. Please help us to reach even more families in need. Give qurbani.
