Islamic Relief USA as a disaster relief organization: Haiti Earthquake, 2010 (2011 Report)

Table of Contents

Where we looked

All of the below was examined in January 2011. Full references for the below pages are in the sources section of this page.

  • Islamic Relief USA's website (www.islamicreliefusa.org):
    • Where We Work
    • Haiti Earthquake Emergency: An Update
    • Blog
    • What We Do
    • Emergencies
    • 2008 Audit Report
    • Annual report (2008)
  • InterAction. 2010. Haiti Accountability Report 2010
  • Chronicle of Philanthropy
  • Google search, 'Haiti' and 'Haiti evaluation' on www.islamicreliefusa.org.
  • Google searches for 'Islamic Relief USA Haiti evaluation,' 'Islamic Relief USA Haiti expenses,' 'Islamic Relief USA Haiti spent.'

How much did the organization raise and how much did it spend?

Date Amount donated Amount Spent
January 25, 2010 $1.0 million1 N/A
January 29, 2010 $1.4 million2 N/A
February 3, 2010 $1.7 million3 N/A
February 12, 2010 $1.7 million4 N/A
February 12, 2010 $1.8 million5 N/A
March 2, 2010 $2.1 million6 N/A
December 8, 2010 $2.5 million7 $1.7 million

How specific is the organization about how it spent its funds?

According to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, as of December 8, 2010, Islamic Relief USA had granted $916,119 to a group called IRQ for shelters. This grant accounted for 54% of Islamic Relief USA's spending on Haiti relief.8

Islamic Relief USA also presents a list of its activities in Haiti.9

Non-disaster relief activities

Islamic Relief USA describes its overall activities, gives examples of specific projects,10 and lists the countries it works in.11

We have not found a comprehensive breakdown of activities, or attribution of funds to activities, at a more detailed level.

Sources

  • 1Chronicle of Philanthropy, "A Roundup of Haiti Fund Raising."
  • 2Chronicle of Philanthropy, "A Roundup of Haiti Fund Raising as of January 29."
  • 3Chronicle of Philanthropy, "Haiti Donations Exceed $644-Million, as of February 3."
  • 4Chronicle of Philanthropy, "American Charities Raise $709-Million for Haiti Relief, Chronicle Tally Finds."
  • 5Chronicle of Philanthropy, "American Charities Raise $774-Million for Haiti Relief, Chronicle Tally Finds."
  • 6Chronicle of Philanthropy, "$1.1-Billion Donated for Haiti Relief: Updated Tally (May 11)."
  • 7

    "Amount raised: $2,527,914; n/a by worldwide network
    Amount spent: $1,700,000 as of 12/8/2010
    In-kind donations: $377,695
    Government grants: n/a"
    Chronicle of Philanthropy, "Haiti Earthquake Fund Raising, One Year Later."

  • 8

    "Amount raised: $2,527,914; n/a by worldwide network
    Amount spent: $1,700,000 as of 12/8/2010
    In-kind donations: $377,695
    Government grants: n/a"
    Where the money went: Of that money, $916,119 has been re-granted to a group called IRQ for shelters. Approximately $26,390 paid for school desks."
    Chronicle of Philanthropy, "Haiti Earthquake Fund Raising, One Year Later."

  • 9

    "Islamic Relief's Response

    Over the past year, Islamic Relief has continued to provide support for more than 8,000 people in Haiti through relief and recovery programs. The main focus has been to provide shelter, camp management support, water and sanitation as well as to ensure that people have access to food and basic needs through cash-for-work programs.

    Current Activities

    • Livelihood: To date, Islamic Relief has employed over 450 beneficiaries in its 'Cash for Work' program to clear rubble from destroyed and damaged buildings in Delmas and Carrefour, which have provided the following benefits:
      1. More than 20,000 tons of rubble have been cleared
      2. Better access to roads has allowed for more than 100 families to move back to their homes
      3. Economic stimulation
      4. Transportation access
    • Water and Sanitation: Islamic Relief is constructing community latrines to achieve Sphere standards and raising awareness of hygiene promotion at Islamic Relief-administered camps
    • Transitional Shelter: In close collaboration with Shelter Cluster, Islamic Relief is constructing 800 transitional shelters in Carrefour. The design of the shelter has been approved by the cluster and the materials have been procured and prepared at a new sub-office near project sites.
    • Education: Working closely with Haiti's Ministry of Education, the mayors of Delmas and Carrefour and school directors, Islamic Relief is starting to provide materials and labor to repair damaged schools that can be safely reused. An estimated 2,500 students between the ages of 5 and 17 will benefit from the education program.
    • Vocational Training: Islamic Relief has established a vocational training center to conduct skills training in areas of IT, car mechanics and carpentry for over 600 youth.

    Islamic Relief continues to scale up its aid response in Haiti, in partnership with other non-governmental organizations, particularly in areas of education and livelihood support." Islamic Relief USA, "Haiti Earthquake Emergency: An Update."

  • 10

    The broader activities listed are:

    • Development projects
    • Emergency relief projects
    • Ramadan
    • Udhiyah/Qurbani
    • Domestic Projects

    Examples of specific projects include:

    • "Development Projects
      Islamic Relief views its relief efforts as the beginning of a responsible relationship meant to deliver beneficiaries from their suffering. Giving people the confidence to participate in their own development and to secure their future without the need for continuing external assistance is the ultimate objective of Islamic Relief. Therefore, Islamic Relief finds it essential to complement relief work with development projects such as:
      • Water and Sanitation
      • Health and Nutrition
      • Emergency Relief and Disaster Preparedness
      • Education
      • Income Generation
      • Orphan Support Program"
    • "Udhiyah/Qurbani
      An Islamic religious practice performed at the time of Eid al-Adha (the 10th day of the Islamic month of Dhul al-Hijjah), Udhiyah/Qurbani usually entails the distribution of meat amongst the poor. Islamic Relief performs Udhiyah/Qurbani on behalf of its donors, and distributes the meat to beneficiaries worldwide. Maintaining sensitivity to local customs and traditions, Islamic Relief also distributes vegetarian packs to non-meat eaters."

    All information in this footnote is from Islamic Relief USA, "What We Do."

  • 11

    Islamic Relief USA, "Where We Work."

Source URL: https://www.givewell.org/international/disaster-relief/islamic-relief-usa