Ahead of the 2023 Global Food Security Summit, Islamic Relief Worldwide CEO Waseem Ahmad said: “It is a shocking indictment of the international system that years of progress on tackling hunger is being undone, as global levels of hunger have more than doubled in the last few years. We’re seeing climate change, conflict…
Read moreThe attacks on Gaza’s few remaining hospitals must stop immediately, Islamic Relief says, as more hospitals have been bombed and besieged overnight, putting thousands of lives at risk. It can never be morally justifiable to attack hospitals that are full of casualties and frightened civilians, and international law demands that hospitals are protected.…
Read moreHospitals in Gaza are on the verge of total shutdown as more have come under intense bombardment today, Islamic Relief is warning. Almost two thirds of all hospitals in Gaza are now completely out of action and the rest are struggling to keep functioning while civilian casualties continue to rise. Today’s escalated attacks on…
Read moreMore than 330,000 people have been displaced from their homes after severe flooding struck Somalia, Islamic Relief says. Some areas of the country have reportedly received more rainfall in the past week than they normally do in the entire October-December rainy season. At least 28 people have been killed and more than 1.1…
Read moreThe death toll in Gaza today passed 10,000 people since the enclave came under attack on 7 October, including over 4,800 children. The combined death toll in Israel and Gaza now exceeds 11,400, and Islamic Relief has condemned what it calls the “abject failure” of the international community to agree a ceasefire and…
Read moreThousands of people a day are arriving in Afghanistan without shelter, food or water and are facing an uncertain future after being told to leave Pakistan. Islamic Relief teams in Afghanistan are now providing new arrivals there with aid such as clean drinking water, cash, emergency latrines and basic healthcare. Today (3rd November)…
Read moreIslamic Relief condemns the killing of innocent Palestinians in Jabalia refugee camp after a series of Israeli airstrikes yesterday and today that are reported to have killed at least 50 people and wounded over 140. Buildings in residential areas of the densely populated camp were levelled in the attacks, with one resident describing…
Read moreIslamic Relief has lost contact with its staff in Gaza, and Palestinians are unable to contact their loved ones following the severing of internet and mobile communications links in the occupied enclave as part of an intensification of military operations. The death toll in Gaza and Israel since October 7 has now reached…
Read moreHospitals in the Gaza strip are set to run out of power and go “dark”, possibly within days, as fuel in the besieged enclave runs out with Gaza’s Indonesian Hospital already plunged into darkness yesterday. News of the impending power outage in Gaza’s health centres comes after the Israeli government has blockaded and…
Read moreIslamic Relief has joined other dozens of major organisations around the world in signing this joint call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel #CeasefireNow: Open Call for an Immediate Ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and Israel to Prevent a Humanitarian Catastrophe and Further Loss of Innocent Lives We have witnessed unfathomable…
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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 20 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.
