Qurbani from Generous Indonesians Enlivens Eid Al-Adha in Somalia

ACTNews, MOGADISHU – Mualim was sitting on a four-wheeled motorbike that has been modified so that he who has lost a leg can ride it. The scorching heat of Mogadishu sun did not dampen his enthusiasm as he received qurbani meat along with hundreds of other Somali residents.

Mualim did not know where the meat came from. When people told him that the meat came from generous donors in Indonesia, he did not know where Indonesia was. However, with utter sincerity, he prayed that the benefactors be blessed.

"Thank you to our Muslim friends in Indonesia, and I pray that Allah will repay all of your kindness. Thank you very much for generous friends in Indonesia who have sent the qurbani animals," said Mualim.

The three days after Eid Al-Adha 2019 in Somalia were quite lively, with passers-by carrying bags of qurbani meat given by the benefactors. About 1,200 heads of cattle were slaughtered for the Somalis by Global Qurban – ACT.

"Alhamdulillah, on the third day after Eid Al-Adha, there were a total of 1,200 heads of cattle that we sacrificed for the residents of Mogadishu, Baidoa and Beledweyne. In addition to the poor families, we also distributed to qurbani meat to orphans in several orphanages," explained Andi Noor Faradiba from Global Qurban - ACT who directly distributed the meat there.

Somalia has been facing quite many challenges, from the conflicts that rages on for almost three decades, extremist attacks, spreading diseases, and devastating swarm of locusts have taken a heavy toll on the locals, as reported by Republika.

Children in one of the IDP camps in Somalia. (ACTNews / Shulhan S. Rijal)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the Covid-19 pandemic helped worsen the world food system. In Somalia, around 3.5 million people are projected to face a food crisis at the worse level in the coming months.

This year, Global Qurban - ACT will visit Somalia again. Faradiba hoped, in this year's Eid Al-Adha, the generous benefactors can reach out their hands to help the Somalis that are living in difficulties.

"Insha Allah, we will greet the Somalis again this year. Of course, we expect the participation of the benefactors so that we can enliven their Eid again this year in the midst of the difficult situations they face," hoped Faradiba. []