By Hassan Zaggi
In an effort to reduce the sufferings of the over 3.3 million Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in all parts of the Nigeria, the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society, a faith-based organisation in Nigeria, are in partnership to support the IDPs live better lives.
Currently, over 3.3 million people are internally displaced in Nigeria.
This partnership between UNHCR and the Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society intends to mobilise support from Nigeria’s Muslim community and galvanise the spirit of Islamic philanthropy as a tool to support some of the most vulnerable populations amongst us.
The partnership will last till June 2024.
As part of the partnership, Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society will organise fundraising activities in order to raise the needed resources to suppport IDPs in Nigeria live decent lives.
According to Imam Fuad Adeyemi, National Chief Imam of Al-Habibiyyah: “This partnership with UNHCR is an expansion of the work Al-Habibiyyah is doing to support the less privileged in society.
“In Ramadan, we feed at least 2,000 people every day with our food bank program in Abuja. Moreover, we have over 20 years of experience in fundraising as evident in our annual distribution of Zakat.”
A statement by Al-Habibiyyah explained that the over 3.3 million IDPs in Nigeria cut across different regions of northeast, northwest, and northcentral.
The perennial farmers-herders clashes in the northcentral as well as the banditry and kidnappings in the northwest have added to the displacement emergency in the northeast caused by non-state-armed groups.
These displaced communities are in dire need of support for basic amenities such as shelter, health, education, access to clean water, and protection from sexual violence.
UNHCR has been at the forefront, responding to the needs of these IDPs, but the increasing number of displaced persons in Nigeria has exacerbated resources.
As a faith-based organisationi, Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society’ mandate include the propagation of Islam in Nigeria and beyond, Islamic & secular education, inter-religious dialogue, provision of social services such as health care, education & welfare assistance to people in need as well as the advancement of Islamic culture in all facets of human activities.
Al-Habibbiyyah collaborates with fellow Muslims, Islamic organizations, and other reputable impact-making organizations whose vision & mandate matches theirs to deliver interventions that promote the well-being of the people and human dignity.
