GEORGIA, US – When Hurricane Florence hit the American states, Muslim organizations did not hesitate to offer a much-needed relief aid to evacuees, opening their mosques as shelters and donating supplies to those affected by the storm.
A report published Saturday by Saporta Report said that Al-Farooq Masjid, on 14th Street in Atlanta, is accepting supplies that are brand new, and packaged, for delivery to those in need of aid following the devastation of Hurricane Florence.
On the other hand, the Islamic Circle of North America Relief and the Muslims of Georgia, and North and South Carolina organized over two dozen mosques as shelters for evacuees who fled Hurricane Florence.
The doors opened Sept. 13 and were to remain open through the end of the storm, according to a statement.
In Atlanta, the local chapter of the Islamic Circle of North America Relief served as a central clearinghouse for information about shelters.
“ICNA Relief is allocating $100,000 towards relief efforts,” Maqsood Ahmed, CEO of ICNA Relief, said in the statement.
“Besides requesting financial support, we will be making a call for volunteers to help with mucking, gutting, and clean-up efforts, as well,” Ahmed said.
“ICNA Relief, in partnership with APPNA [Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America] will also deploy two mobile clinics and two ICNA Relief trucks filled with food items and toiletries to the disaster impacted areas once the storm has passed.”
The Burlington Masjid, at 1908 S. Mebane St., Burlington, North Carolina, was taking donations for medicine and toiletries as well as other items until Saturday, Sept. 21.
“We are getting them in,” Shaher Sayed, prayer leader at the mosque, told The Times News.
“Some people drop in medicine, some medical supplies, some baby formula — really a variety of things that people bring in. Definitely, we have a good quantity.”
“This is part of us being part of this community, for us to help when someone needs help,” Sayed said. “We don’t have choice but to help. I mean, it is part of our religion and teaching, and part of our obligation as part of the community.”
When Hurricane Irma struck last year, hundreds of evacuees found shelter at 20 Georgia mosques.
Another report issued after Hurricane Sandy devastated communities along the Northeast coast, said the organization had responded to 19 disasters in 15 states during the previous 18 months.