ISLAMIC RELIEF has thanked Muslims across the world for following Ramadan guidelines on social distances – and warned them to continue as Eid approaches.
Even if the rate of increase in the number of infections is coming down, new people are still becoming infected in the UK each day – helping the virus to keep itself alive Although the death rate is decreasing, the virus is still killing people every day. The only way to stop the virus is to stop giving it access to new hosts – and that means no visits to family and friends for Eid: celebrate within your household.
Islamic Relief operates far beyond the UK’s borders, and although lockdown measures are being cautiously eased across most of Europe, the charity is aware that infection rates are continuing to grow in poorer parts of the world, where health services are struggling to cope. As Islamic Relief works to try to ease the symptoms of poverty in countries such as Somalia, Yemen and South Sudan, the virus is a new and deadly enemy.
Last month Islamic Relief published faith sensitive guidelines – developed in partnership with the British Board of Scholars and Imams, the World Health Organisation and other international aid agencies – to help Muslims continue religious observance while also helping to halt the spread of Coronavirus.
Now the charity is backing up that measure with a practical response. It is aiming to reach 3 million people in 20 countries in the coming weeks, offering practical support such as protective equipment and medical supplies as well as public education.
Islamic Relief’s Faith Partnerships Advisor Atallah Fitzgibbon said, “We are now seeing what we fear is the start of a wave of infections across many countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia which simply don’t have the resources to cope. We’ve seen confirmed cases in refugee camps and slums where self-isolation and social distancing are impossible and in places where not going to work means you will not be able to feed your family.
“Islamic Relief has launched urgent prevention initiatives, raising awareness of hygiene practices, disinfecting public spaces and health facilities and paying the salaries of doctors, as well as providing much-needed equipment to these areas.
“But there is only so much we can do on our own. Everyone can catch this virus, and everyone can spread it. We need to continue to limit our physical interactions with others as much as possible, and sadly this includes during the Eid-al-Fitr celebrations.”
•For more information about Islamic Relief and current appeals, go to: Islamic Relief
•Read more about it: Islamic Relief: let’s save lives in Ramadan Muslim charities work together to combat Coronavirus