JEDDAH: The International Islamic Relief Organization – Saudi Arabia (IIROSA) has extended various humanitarian assistance to a number of orphans, widows, divorced women, sick people, poor families and victims of drought in various regions in Ethiopia, Secretary General of the organization Dr. Adnan Khalil Basha announced this week. He said the assistance was delivered by IIROS's branch office in Addis Ababa and also by special delegations who have faced great hardships in reaching remote areas due to the difficult terrain and primitive means of transport. “A total of 1,882,548 people in Ethiopia have so far benefited from various kinds of assistance provided by IIROSA,” the official explained. Dr. Basha said the delegations of the organization were able to reach remote areas in Ethiopia through very primitive means of transport and via difficult and unpaved roads. “By the grace of Allah and the support of philanthropists from Saudi Arabia, the delegations were able to distribute the assistance in various sectors like health, social, educational and development,” he said. The official added that IIROSA plans to get the approval of the concerned authorities to extend more relief aid to Ethiopia especially since that country has many families suffering from poverty, hunger and illiteracy due to natural disasters and racial and sectarian conflicts. The official said 758,526 victims of natural disasters in Ethiopia have benefited from these assistances which included large quantities of foodstuffs, medicines, blankets and covers. He said, as is customary every year, IIROSA also carried out its two projects of Iftar (providing material to fasting people to break their fast in the holy month of Ramadan) and distribution of Adahi sacrificial meat in Ethiopia. “During the past years, a total of 455,126 fasting men and women benefited from the first project while 276,000 others benefited from the second one,” he added. Dr. Basha said IIROSA has also dug 39 wells in Ethiopia. It is noteworthy that IIROSA is sponsoring 18,204 orphans who are staying with their families, 5,011 at the two orphanage homes and 80 at the computer teaching center in Ethiopia. IIROSA is running four dispensaries which provided medical services to 130,134 men and women. It is supporting a number of schools and educational institutions including Al-Naser School, Al-Awalyiah College and Al-Awaliyah School which together accommodate a total of 7,195 male and female students. It is also sponsoring 1,080 teachers.
