Fear is rising in Beirut as Israeli bombing expands to areas of the Lebanese capital which were previously thought safe, Islamic Relief says. The Israeli government is giving citizens in Beirut less warning ahead of airstrikes and the city is increasingly overcrowded as people flee their homes. Islamic Relief staff say there has…
Read moreCOP29 has been a shameful moral failure, Islamic Relief Worldwide says as the conference comes to an end with a “heartless” outcome that is too low, too slow, and falls far short of what is needed. Rich, high-polluting governments have refused to offer anything close to a fair deal that matches the scale…
Read moreBaku, Azerbaijan: Time is running out to agree a fair and effective climate finance deal at COP29, as the global climate conference in Azerbaijan enters its final days. Islamic Relief is urging rich nations to agree a deal that commits at least $1.3 trillion* a year in public finance, but negotiations towards this…
Read moreDownload the latest snapshot here. Humanitarian aid entering Gaza has fallen to an all-time low. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) released an urgent alert on 8 November reporting that there is a strong likelihood that famine is already occurring in northern Gaza, and that immediate action is required within days, not…
Read moreIsrael’s ongoing bombardment of Lebanon has left elderly people especially vulnerable and without essential medicine, food, and fuel for heating as winter approaches, Islamic Relief aid workers report. The bombing has disrupted supply chains, forced health centres to close, and pushed up prices. Many older people have told us they can no longer…
Read moreThe survival of our planet is at stake at next week’s COP29, and Islamic Relief is calling on world leaders at the summit to deliver a $5 trillion a year package to support poorer countries that are suffering the worst impacts of climate change. With 2024 now set to be the hottest year…
Read moreIslamic Relief aid workers in Valencia have described scenes “like a warzone or tsunami” as they deliver supplies to survivors of the deadly floods. A week after the disaster, communities remain in urgent need of humanitarian aid. At least 217 people have been killed but hundreds more are still missing after Spain’s worst…
Read moreIslamic Relief aid workers in Lebanon’s Bekaa valley have described a night of terror for civilians as the region suffered its heaviest and deadliest bombing yet. Last night Israeli airstrikes hit dozens of towns and villages in eastern Lebanon, with more than 60 people reported killed including young children. 120 people are reported…
Read moreIn response to the Israeli Knesset’s decision to ban the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) from areas under Israeli control, Islamic Relief says: Israel is bombing and starving Palestinians to death, and now by banning UNRWA it has cut off a crucial lifeline for millions of people. This decision will kill…
Read moreWe, the undersigned organisations, appeal to all UN member states to secure an immediate ceasefire across Gaza, Lebanon, Israel and the region, and to end the impunity that has allowed atrocities by Israeli forces against civilians to continue and escalate. Without accountability, there will be no red lines and no rock bottom. Israel’s…
Read more
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
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
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.
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.
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.
