As you may have read, on the 11th of November 2014, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHRC) released a statement estimating that 13.6 million people have been displaced due to the invasion by ISIS.

Winters in Syria and Iraq are particularly severe and many are without adequate shelter, warm clothes, blankets and steady food sources. The UNHRC's Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Amin Awad stated, "when we talk about a million people displaced over two months, or 500,000 overnight, the world is just not responding." In fact, due to the increase in demand on aid and a lack of financing, there is a $50 million funding gap for the UNHRC winter appeal.

InshaAllah on the death anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad (s), the 20th and 21st of December 2014, there will be a globally coordinated fundraising appeal to help raise awareness and resources for those so desperately in need. As part of this initiative we are inviting youth to partake in a sponsored fast. The reason for this is that whilst raising money is one excellent means of support, it is also necessary for our youth to empathise with the plight of the needy.

We are inviting the youth to fast one, three or five days. The fasts can take place either leading up to the 20th and 21st of December or thereafter to coincide with the start of the holiday seasons. There is no minimum sponsorship required as every penny raised will help those displaced by war.