Five Things You Can Do to Support the Refugee Crisis

Credit: UNHCR/A.McConnell

Thousands of refugees have been fleeing conflict with many dying as they seek refuge. We are all horrified by the shocking scenes of young children being washed up on the shores of Turkey and pray to Allah that the suffering of these people is alleviated as soon as possible.

Here are five things you can do to help those in need:

1. Volunteer (let us know of the work you are doing so we can share it with others and on our website):

• Provide aid to convoys going to Calais / Hungary or volunteer: there are many aid organisations in need of food, aid and volunteers both locally and internationally. For example:*Convoy leaving Thursday 10th September – Drop off Days: Monday 7th, Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th September, at the following:-Al-Ansar Islamic Education Centre: 833-835 High Rd, IG38TD – deliveries/drop offs can be made between 7:30pm-9pm
  -Simple Claims: 567-585 Barking Rd, Eastham, E6 2LW – deliveries/drop offs can be made between 10am -5:00pm
  -Redbridge-Islamic-Centre: 179 Eastern Avenue, Redbridge, Essex IG4 5AW – deliveries/drop offs can be made between 7pm -9pm
  -Uniksource: Unit 17a, Forest Trading Estate, Priestly Way, London, E17 6AL – deliveries/drop offs can be made between 12pm – 7pm.What you can provide: Ready to eat food items such as;  tinned food with peel tops i.e fish, tuna, sardines, long life milk, dates, biscuits, ready to eat snacks, energy bars, nuts, sweets/chocolates, sleeping bags, socks, shoes/trainers, raincoats. 
  
  *SKT Welfare: convoy going on 18 September seeking specific items – https://www.facebook.com/SKTWelfareUK

  *Aid Convoy leaving on 13th September 2015, by Penny Appeal:

• DROP-OFF POINTS

  CITY	ADDRESS	OPENING TIMES
  Bradford	Penny Appeal HUB, 49-51 Campus Rd, Bradford BD7 1HR	Thu 10th to Sun 13th:  10am to 10pm
  Leeds	Scent Salim, 107 Harehills Lane, Leeds LS8 4DN	Fri 11th: 12pm to 4pm and 7pm to 9pm Sat 12th and Sun 13th: 11am to 4pm
  Manchester	Polish & Glow, Unit 3, Olympia Trading Estate, Great Jackson Street, Manchester M15 4NP	Thu 10th to Sun 13th: 11am to 7pm and 10pm to midnight
  Bolton	Gloves Community Centre, Premier House, Prince Street, Bolton BL1 2NP	Thu 10th to Sun 13th: 9am to 5pm
  Luton	Al Hira Centre, 1-7 Beechwood Road, Luton LU4 8RR	Thu 10th to Sun 13th: 1pm to 10pm
  London	628 New North Road, Hainault IG6 3TQ	Thu 10th to Sun 13th: 1pm to 8pm
  Birmingham	Argeela, 113 Fazeley Street Birmingham, B5 5RX	Thu 10th to Sun 13th: 4pm to midnight

  Find out what to bring here: https://www.pennyappeal.org/appeal/refugee-emergency-amir-khan

  *A World Without Barriers: shoe box appeal – https://www.facebook.com/WorldWithoutBarriers

• Provide a home for refugees:
  
  • https://www.fostercarelink.com/ or https://www.homeforgood.org.uk/refugees
  • Encourage landlords to provide housing:  https://www.citizensuk.org/help_find_homes_for_syrian_refugees

2. Get Political: 

• Lobby your Member of Parliament: this Wednesday, the issue of refugees will be debated. Write to your MP using https://www.writetothem.com/ and ask them to encourage the Government to take our fair share of refugees by offering support to those who need it most. And do not forget to write in and support those who have already advocated a more humanitarian stance.
• Write to your local council: write to your local councillors (see https://www.writetothem.com/) and the Council leader (from the Council website) asking them to commit to resettling refugees in your local area. In your letter to them, you can highlight the fact that many other councils have signed up to the UN’s Gateway Programme, as well as indicate any support you are able to provide the Council
• Sign the petition: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/105991

3. Donate: Your generosity is crucial. There are many Muslim charities raising money for refugees including:

• Islamic Relief: https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/donation/index.php
• Muslim Aid: https://www.muslimaid.org/
• Human Appeal: https://humanappeal.org.uk/
• Al-Imdaad Foundation: www.alimdaad.co.uk
• Penny Appeal: https://www.pennyappeal.org/

4. Join a vigil on Tuesday 8th September outside Westminster Cathedral at 7pm: Visithttps://www.refugee-action.org.uk/for more details and Avaaz too https://secure.avaaz.org/en/no_more_drownings_uk/?fpla. Feel free to organise local action to demonstrate support for refugees and let your local media know!

5. Remind everyone that this is about our common humanity, not about politics or faith

This is an issue of our common humanity – we are not calling for open borders but open hearts.

How British Muslims are Helping: 

• Muslim Council of Wales (umbrella of mosques in Wales): working with Citizens UK to put pressure on Cardiff Council to accept 50 Syrian families.
• Muslim Forum of Middlesex (umbrella of 7 mosques/Muslim groups in Harrow): working with Harrow, Brent and Hillingdon Councils to accept Syrian families.
• World Federation of KSIMC (international umbrella of mosques across the world inc. >10 in the UK): working with Yemeni refugees to bring them to the UK by providing legal, financial and potentially housing support – inc. critical medical patients, children and elderly (has already organised evacuation of 452 to Djibouti)
• Da’watul Islam (national body with many mosques), Dar ul Ummah: actively working with Citizens UK to house refugees in the borough.
• Kuwaiti Community Association (national body for Kuwaitis): long-term working to bring Kuwaiti refugees to the UK by supporting Kuwaitis (legal / financial).
• Sufra Food Bank (local food bank in Brent): agreed to take charge of providing food and supplies for refugees brought into the borough by Brent Council.
• Kingston Mosque: Mosque working with the council to house 50 refugees.
• Imam of East London Mosque speaks to worshippers on the Syrian refugee crisis and asks everyone to do their bit – https://www.eastlondonmosque.org.uk/news/syrian-refugee-crisis
• Who is Hussain? is fundraising £10,000 for Save the Children to ensure that those in need have access to care and support. To donate please visit https://www.justgiving.com/Who-is-Hussain. Collection points have also been arranged where people can donate items such as sleeping bags, clothing items and cooking utensils. You can find collection points here: https://www.facebook.com/WhoIsHussain
• Al-Imdaad Foundation continues to support refugees in countries such as Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey and is also helping vulnerable people in European countries. To view the LIVE updates please visit www.alimdaad.co.uk. They will be providing the refugees with food, shelter, medication, clothing and protection.
• Human Relief Foundation has continued to help thousands of needy Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and Iraq, by providing essential aid items such as tents, clothes, food, water, and sanitation items. The Foundation has also been helping the Iraqi refugees in neighbouring countries as well as those who have become internally displaced due to unrest in the country. HRF is providing assistance to the stranded refugees in the Jungle Camp  in Calais , France.  On the local level, the Foundation is cooperating with Bradford Metropolitan Council in regards to providing our assistance to the Syrian migrant families who will be allowed to the UK and will reside in Bradford. https://www.hrf.org.uk
• Al-Khair foundation is on the ground in Calais, Hungary and other countries to assist Syrian refugees – https://alkhair.org/

If you would like to list your initiative that is helping refugees, please email mediaoffice@mcb.org.uk with information, a web link and contact details.