Mahmudh is a farmer in rural Sri Lanka, living with his wife and adult son. The family rarely enjoys meat, with it being both prohibitively expensive and difficult to find in their area.“Meat holds a special significance for us as it’s considered a ‘rich’ food,” Mahmudh explains. “Although we would love to consume meat more frequently, our financial difficulties prevent us from doing so. I make an effort to buy meat every Friday but there are times when I am unable to do so,” the 65-year-old says.Along with cultivating his one-acre paddy field, Mahmudh also works as a day labourer to help support his family. Finding work is challenging however, and he usually manages to get only 1 or 2 days of extra work each week.His son has also been working in a shop to help pay the family’s monthly bills, which includes Mahmudh’s wife’s medical care.“Living in poverty has made survival difficult for me and my family. Our primary sources of income are farming and daily wages, but my wife’s illness has made it even more challenging as she is unable to walk properly,” Mahmudh says.
Mahmudh and his wife were one of over 17,700 Sri Lankan families who received a qurbani meat parcel from Islamic Relief in 2023
Mahmudh knows the importance of proper nutrition to the health of his wife and the rest of the family, but their financial situation means they mainly live on eggs and green vegetables.“We have no choice but to consume whatever food we can get. Sometimes I feel exhausted when working in the fields due to the lack of proper nutrition.“Meat is very expensive – prices range from 1,800-2,000 rupees (approx. £5) considering that my daily wages mount to only 1,500 rupees, I have to allocate my entire earnings just to afford one kilogram of meat,” Mahmudh explains, adding that the nearest shop selling meat is a 5-kilometre walk from his home.Faces lit up by smilesLast year, Mahmudh’s family was one of over 17,700 in Sri Lanka that received meat from Islamic Relief to celebrate Eid al-Adha.“The meat pack provided by Islamic Relief has been an incredible blessing for my family. During our financial difficulties, receiving this assistance has truly eased our hardships. It fills my heart with gratitude to witness the smiles that light up our faces when we see the provisions we have received. With the meat pack, we have been able to address our dietary needs for an extended period of time. My wife, who is a skilled cook, has devised a plan to maximise its usage so we can stretch it for approximately 15 days.“This assistance has not only provided us with physical nutrition but also uplifted our spirits during a challenging time. We are grateful to them for their support and pray that they continue to make a positive difference in the lives of others in need.”
For families like Mahmudh’s, Islamic Relief’s qurbani parcels remove the burden of obtaining healthy, nutritious food during Eid al-Adha. Please help us to reach even more families in need. Give qurbani.
