Fatima lives with her children in the centre of Bamyan, the largest town in the central Afghanistan region of Hazarajat. She lost her husband 6 years ago, leaving her alone to fend for her children Arezuo, now 12 years old, and Omid, who was just a baby when his father died.
“After (my husband’s) death, our living situation became so hard… I do not have any money to provide basic things such as food, clothes and education to my children.”
Spiralling food prices mean that many essential food items are scarce and out of reach. Access to healthcare and other essential non-food items is also increasingly difficult, meaning families like Fatima’s face pain and a daily struggle to eat.
“I am not able to take (my children) to hospital as they both have disabilities – my daughter is blind in one eye and my son’s hand and foot are disabled.”
As well as looking after her children, Fatima works in other people’s homes – cleaning and washing clothes – to try to make ends meet. Despite this, she still relies on relatives to provide food for her children and is unable to afford meat.
“How can a family who can hardly afford a piece of bread afford meat in their diet?” says Fatima, who knows only too well that her children are missing out on a healthy diet and that this may impact their development. “I can clearly see the differences and how energetic my kids are when they have meat.”
Your sacrifice eases their hunger
Islamic Relief’s qurbani programme provides much needed relief to Fatima and her children, filling her with pride and happiness to see them smile. “Families like us only have the chance to have meat in our diet once a year, and that is Eid al-Adha.”
A growing number of people in Afghanistan need your help. Last year alone, your donations enabled Islamic Relief to provide quality meat to over 3.4 million vulnerable people.
Alhamdulillah, our qurbani distributions will this year aim to reach more people than ever before, providing a lifeline and critical source of protein to those most in need.
Make this YOUR sacrifice. Donate now.
