For over ten years, the Red Cross has worked hand-in-hand with Islamic Relief USA, a relief organization dedicated to serving those in need. Through over 100 offices in 40 countries, Islamic Relief USA, an almost forty year-old organization, conducts projects related to disaster repair, sustainable development, food security, advocacy and more. This collaboration is a strong testament to the power of cooperation and unwavering dedication to help those in need.

Islamic Relief USA is composed of over 30,000 international volunteers, 3,000 of whom dedicate themselves to volunteering in the midst of disasters. All volunteers are trained through the Red Cross, by official Red Cross trainers, in psychological first aid, case work, disaster assessment, and/or disaster fundamentals to carefully tackle any issue they face. In fact, some staff members from the Islamic Relief USA have even become Red Cross trainers themselves, furthering the strong bonds between these two organizations.

In recent years, Islamic Relief USA has assisted with numerous deployments and missions, from flood relief to recovery projects. Following the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, Islamic Relief USA worked on a long-term house recovery and rebuild in Houston which they successfully completed this past year. Furthermore, they have taken on a long-term recovery project in eastern North Carolina to rebuild and repair homes for residents repeatedly impacted by Atlantic storms. Recently, when Houston started to experience heavy rains and flooding events, Islamic Relief USA responded quickly to compile disaster assessments and provide relief to the community, a mission they are still undertaking.

Looking forward, Islamic Relief USA hopes to continue working towards their mission. Currently, they are working with IT experts to digitize Red Cross training in order to streamline the volunteer onboarding process. In doing this, they hope to continue to expand and grow the number of volunteers for disaster work so that they can respond more quickly and help more storm survivors. Furthermore, they are looking to expand early response capabilities by expanding their training and increasing access to materials and tools in places that are frequently affected such as the gulf coast. 

Through their collaboration, the Red Cross and Islamic Relief USA have made a significant difference in the lives of countless individuals and will continue to make a significant impact around the world. 

Story By: Elizabeth Thomas