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Biloxi

Islamic Relief's Katrina efforts in Mississippi focused mainly on the devastated city of Biloxi. Islamic Relief has been providing various types of aid to help in the recovery efforts. On January 24, 2006, the city of Biloxi and Mayor A.J. Halloway officially recognized Islamic Relief's disaster relief work in the city.

Health Clinic in Biloxi, MS

The Coastal Family Health Center's East Biloxi Clinic had previously served the health care needs of the indigent populations of Biloxi. These facilities were completely flooded during the hurricane and rendered non-functional.

In response to the medical needs of the underserved populations post-Hurricane Katrina, Islamic Relief agreed to purchase a double-wide mobile home structure to be converted into a primary health care facility and provide basic start-up equipment, such as examination tables.

The cost of buying and installing the mobile facility was over $46,000. Islamic Relief has also agreed to donate medicines and other medical supplies worth hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Coastal Family Health Center.

Medicines and Medical Supplies

In addition to opening the clinic, Islamic Relief also:

Donated large sums of medicines and medical supplements
Donated 35 medical exam tables to be used in the Biloxi clinic and other Coastal Health sites
Arranged to equip clinic with computers and wireless internet
The medicines and medical supplies were donated by Salt Lake City, Utah based organization Globus Relief.

Psychosocial Development

Often after disasters, an important aspect of recovery that is ignored is dealing with the psychosocial and mental health aspects of suffering through tragedies.

Disaster victims often suffer through many symptoms, including:

Shock
Trauma
Feeling of helplessness
Survivor's guilt
Inability to grieve properly
Stressful living conditions
Feeling of anger

To fill this major gap in dealing with a humanitarian disaster, Islamic Relief is funding a $42,200 project in partnership with the International Institute for Psychosocial Development (IIPD) and has initiated a 3-month initial project phase to address these important issues.

Islamic Relief aims to empower survivors and victims in positive and healthy coping skills for overcoming their tragic experiences and losses.

The goals of this project will be met through the following means:

Bring an Indonesian couple to share their unique experience of losing their children and property in the tsunami and how they are coping with the losses
Conduct training programs that promote knowledge and awareness of mental health issues
Hold workshops that address: Anger Management; Emotional Processing post disasters; Deep Relaxation Training; Priority of Positive Emotions; Empowerment over Helplessness
Publications such as booklets, brochures, and calendars that promote health wellness and positive coping skills distributed to victims
Community Kitchen

Loaves and Fishes Community Kitchen had previously served the needs of the indigent populations of Biloxi. This facility was completely flooded during the storm and made non-functional. Currently, food programs for the victims of the disaster are absent, as temporary emergency kitchens pack up and leave the area.

In response to the food needs of the underserved populations at this critical time, Islamic Relief has agreed to fund the cost for the annual rent of the current facility, for the sum of $7,200. This grant from Islamic Relief will cover the lease of the current location for the year 2006. In addition to the grant, Islamic Relief is assisting Loaves and Fishes in other areas to get the kitchen up and running again for the community.

Coordination Center

The East Biloxi Coordination and Relief Center serves hurricane victims by coordinating relief efforts of volunteer agencies and the needs of community members. Islamic Relief was one of the main relief groups that helped establish the Coordination Center with the local councilman.

To further assist the efforts of the Coordination Center and the groups working through it, Islamic Relief awarded a $10,000 grant to the Center for transportation services. The funds are allocated to be used for a truck/trailer for volunteer agencies to use in the area as they continue the relief and rebuilding process. Some aid groups who have skilled volunteers at times do not have the vehicle to move supplies to complete their work. This grant from Islamic Relief will assist the groups working on the rebuilding effort and help make a quicker recovery in the region.

Grant to Mosque

Islamic Relief awarded a $15,000 grant to the Biloxi Islamic Center ($10,000 for the rebuilding efforts for the Mosque and $5,000 for supporting community members affected by Katrina). Islamic Relief volunteers also helped gut out the walls inside the main prayer area of the Mosque. The inside of the Mosque was flooded up to 5 feet.

Goods Distribution

Islamic Relief received two shipments of hygiene kits and cleaning kits from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to distribute to hurricane victims.

In all, 3,000 hygiene kit boxes (each kit serves 5 people) were distributed. Items in the hygiene kit included the following:

Towels
Toothbrush/Toothpaste
Soap
Comb
Islamic Relief also distributed 1,872 buckets of cleaning kits. Each bucket contained essential cleaning items such as:

1 gallon of bleach; 13-ounce bottle of disinfectant dish soap
Two pairs of heavy latex gloves
Two stiff scrub brushes; three medium sponges
1 Box of heavy-duty trash bags
1 spray bottle; 1 measuring cup; some rags
Food and Non-Food Items

Islamic Relief distributed over 10,228 pounds of food and essential household supplies, which were donated by the Bay Area Food Bank. The items that were distributed included the following:

Blackeye peas
Cookies
Cereal
Qater
Powerade
Cleaning Supplies
Toilet tissue

Southern California Muslim Community Collection Drive

A shipment of used clothes, toys, water, diapers and other items collected by the Muslim community in Southern California was dispersed by Islamic Relief in Biloxi. The goods were distributed at Beck Park, the distribution center run by Urban Life Ministries.

Tents & More

Based on the on-going needs of Hurricane Katrina victims in Biloxi, Islamic Relief also purchased and distributed the following items:

Tents
Sleeping bags
Ponchos for rain
Tarps
25 Large-Size Tents

Among the tents Islamic Relief distributed were 25 specialty tents. These tents are bigger than the normal tents and are sectioned into a 2-3 bedroom size format. The value of these 25 tents was over $4,196. These unique tents provided extra living space and room partitions essential for family privacy.

2 Storage Tents

Islamic Relief also purchased another 2 large tents and donated it to the distribution site run out of the Buddhist Temple in East Biloxi. These tents are used to store food and other goods that arrive at the site. The value of these 2 tents is $1,150.

Storage Shelves – Islamic Relief went ahead and funded the purchasing of storage shelves to be used at the clinic run out of the Biloxi Community Center. The medical supplies at the location were being placed in various places at the site and in an unorganized manner. The storage shelves will allow staff to keep medicines close together in a safe and organized fashion. The cost of these shelves was close to $600.

Volunteers

Islamic Relief mobilized its nationwide volunteer base to assist with projects in Biloxi. Volunteers came and assisted for long periods of time from the throughout the country.

Volunteers assisted with many different projects, including: establishing the East Biloxi Coordination and Relief Center where aid agencies' relief efforts were based; attended planning meetings; worked on projects such as the establishment of the clinic; cleaned the Mosque damaged by hurricane; gutted out homes; distributed supplies to various distribution points; registered residents for assistance; swept sidewalks; conducted research for relief donations, supplies, and more.

Miscellaneous Projects

Helped establish the East Biloxi Coordination & Relief Center. The center is the primary location where residents come to seek help and relief groups work out of to assist the victims
Fund the salary of a full-time staffer working in the East Biloxi Coordination and Relief Center
Purchased BBQ grill and propane tank for 15-20 hurricane survivors who were have difficulty cooking meals on an old grill
Provided free transportation to those needing to go to another state
Jackson

Islamic Relief, in partnership with the Muslim community in Jackson, MS is working with the following two groups to repair homes so that evacuees can move into them.

NEIGHBORS

Through NEIGHBORS (Nation's Evacuees in Good Hand's with Benevolent Out-Reach Services), Islamic Relief is funding the bank foreclosure and repair on 3 homes, with a total cost of $7,500. These homes will host families affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Jackson Metro Housing Partnership (JMHP)

Working with the Jackson Metro Housing Partnership, Islamic Relief will fund the renovation of an additional 5 houses with a total cost of $12,500. Units require painting, electrical, plumbing and other important repairs. An estimated $2,500 will be expended on each unit. Islamic Relief volunteers from the Jackson area Muslim community will help repair the homes. These funds will be used for the following:

Sheetrock repairs
Interior painting
Exterior painting
Installment of floor covering
Electrical repairs
Replacement of plumbing fixtures
Material purchases