Under 4th Phase LFT is supporting 300 Orphans under its Orphan Sponsorship Program of Kerbala - Iraq out of 1,291 Orphans. Widows are crying for assistance. LFT Donors please answer the call of widows and Orphans. (PART D - Names of second 75 more orphans)
Background
Iraq is becoming a country noted for the very high percentage of citizens who are widows. There are an estimated 8.5 million women in Iraq aged 15 - 80. Of these women, about 1 in 6 is a widow or a divorcee. They have no dependable source of income, to support themselves or to support their children. Widows are often also responsible for the care of elderly family members.
There are many ways to become a widow in Iraq. Many of these ladies lost their husbands during the 8-year war with Iran. Other women were widowed when their husbands were executed, or ‘disappeared', under Saddam's long regime. Untold thousands of women have become widows during the harsh sanctions imposed on the people of Iraq or as a result of sectarian violence in Iraq over the past few years.
It is estimated that there are between one and two million widows in Iraq. The Ministry of Women's Affairs is quoted as saying there are at least 300,000 widows just in the city of Baghdad, with millions more throughout the country. Of this huge number of widows, only 84,000 receive monthly government support- the amount ranging from a mere $40 to $95 per month.
How widows support themselves
Traditionally, widows and their orphaned children would be cared for through the extended family networks, but now those networks are weakened as a result of decades of wars, sanctions, and internal unrest. Widows - and their children - have few places they can turn to for financial or any other type of help.
The Reuters news agency recently published an important article about widows and orphans in Iraq:
http://www.reuters.com/article/featuredCrisis/idUSKAM744152
The article starts by reporting a letter that was sent to Samira al-Moussawi, chairperson of the parliamentary Committee for Women, Children and Families. A desperate widow wrote to Ms al-Moussawi, asking how she should spend the small amount of support she received: to help support her infant child, or to buy school books for her older child?
How does a widow support herself and her children? There is great competition for the few jobs available in Iraq, and many women do not have the relevant skills or experience. If a widow does get employment, then who will care for her children while she is at work? Who can guarantee her safety as she travels to and from work? Who cares for her children during the long time from when she leaves home for work, until she returns - often a full ten hours or more?
Something to think about
In THE West, people think nothing of spending £ 1 for half a liter of bottled water, which would cost less than a penny from the tap. People pay a bus fare rather than walk two blocks from their home. People buy a sandwich from a supermarket, for the same cost as buying a whole week's worth of sandwich filling.
Please, THINK CAREFULLY, how your simple economies there could be a major contribution to the lives of a widow and her orphaned children in Iraq. Remember Imam Ali, who stated that if Poverty were a person, he would slay that person. Visualize yourself, as you prepare to sleep each night, feeling peaceful as you think of the widows and orphans you help to support.
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The Lady Fatemah (a.s.) Charitable Orphan program | ||||||||||
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Karbala, January - December 2008 | ||||||||||
|
No. |
S/NS |
Gender |
First Name |
Family Name |
DoB |
Guardian |
Date Orphaned |
Reason for father's death |
No of Children |
Remarks |
|
226 |
NS |
M |
Amjad Sa' Aba |
Al Shibil |
1998 |
Mother |
2000 |
Illness |
2 |
Second Primary |
|
227 |
S |
F |
Ayaat Has Abo |
Almusawi |
2005 |
Mother |
2006 |
Killed by terrorists |
2 |
|
|
228 |
NS |
F |
Fatemah Di'a Kam |
Alyassery |
2003 |
Grandmother |
2006 |
Cancer |
2 |
|
|
229 |
S |
F |
Emaan Abb Ras |
Almayali |
1999 |
Mother |
2007 |
Killed by terrorists |
6 |
Second Primary |
|
230 |
S |
M |
Sadeq Abb Ras |
Almayali |
2003 |
Mother |
2007 |
Killed by terrorists |
6 |
|
|
231 |
NS |
F |
Hijraan Mal Abi |
Aljamali |
1998 |
Mother |
2004 |
Killed by Americans |
6 |
Fourth Primary |
|
232 |
NS |
F |
Basaad Mal Abi |
Aljamali |
2000 |
Mother |
2004 |
Killed by Americans |
6 |
Second Primary |
|
233 |
NS |
F |
Ola Fai Abo |
Alzobidi |
2001 |
Mother |
2006 |
Killed by terrorists |
4 |
First Primary |
|
234 |
NS |
F |
Tibah Fai Abo |
Alzobidi |
1999 |
Mother |
2006 |
Killed by terrorists |
4 |
Third Primary / |
|
235 |
NS |
M |
Abbas Ary Hus |
Aljiboory |
1998 |
Mother |
2007 |
Cancer |
5 |
Fourth Primary |
Dear LFT donors: Your sponsorship makes it possible for these children to continue to attend school despite all hardships. Many of them show great eagerness to study and are among the top students in their forms. It does not cost much to support an orphan in Iraq. GBP 15.00 (USD 30.00) per month will provide for basic food and clothing. Your sponsorship will prevent that an orphan gives up his / her education in order to work in menial jobs. Your sponsorship will provide an orphan with the means to acquire knowledge and skills that will ensure that he / she will grow up to be an educated and useful member of society.
NB Trust has full names and address of the beneficiaries
Give As You Earn:
Islamic Humanitarian Service:
Comfort Aid International:
Ijaza:
To make a regular donation by standing order, please download a mandate from the website or contact us and we will send one to you. http://www.ladyfatemahtrust.org/donate.php . You can make a donation by using our secure on-line payment facility at https://secure.webstar.co.uk/lft/donate.php .
Please remember that completing a Gift Aid form substantially boosts your donation by 28% if you are a UK taxpayer.
Thank you, as always for all your generosity and support without which our work would not be possible.
Yours sincerely,
Amirali G. Karim
Chairman of the Board of Trustees
http://www.ladyfatemahtrust.org/
Tel: +44 (0) 7798 76 10 20
Tel +44 (0) 1494 762 063, Email info@ladyfatemahtrust.org, Fax +44 (0) 1494 762 286,
Mobile +44 (0) 7798 76 10 20, Fax +44 (0) 7798 76 90 30
Website: http://www.ladyfatemahtrust.org/
