Millions of people across the world are today living safer, healthier and richer lives because of the valuable work of Muslim Aid over the last quarter of a century.

With an impressive array of ongoing humanitarian projects and programmes, it is now firmly established as one of the Britain’s leading international relief and development agencies. From education to skills training and clean water provision to healthcare, it is today making a difference in more than 70 countries. And it shares my determination for a better world.
Its mission - to eradicate poverty and enable individuals and their communities to live with dignity- is my mission.
Its vision- of social justice, self reliance and human development   for all - is my vision.  Muslim Aid is also making a significant contribution to the Millennium Development Goals, in particular in the countries valurnable to natural disaster s and the damaging effects of climate change.

This is incredibly important. With just five years remaining to meet the MDGs, this year will, I believe, be as decisive for development as the 10 years of the last decade.

We are faced with the global climate change crises and a global economic crisis which threatens to reverse recent gains and end an era of progress when it has only just begun. For poor countries, the climate crises is not some  abstract problem measured in terms of future generations but a stark, dangerous and pressing quality.

Ecological catastrophe is already killing 1,000 people every day and a new hunger emergency looms. While the climate crisis has been slow to build, the effects of financial storms have been sudden and severe. Indeed, in poorer countries it has been the grim difference between life and death.

Our challenge is to deliver past pledges and to pursue new ways to overcome these difficulties. And we are fortunate to have Muslim Aid and its passionate and committed staff and supporters to work with us. Guided by the teachings of Islam, it reminds us constantly that we must never lose sight of our responsibilities to address the daily suffering of millions.
So it is with great pleasure that I congratulate Muslim Aid – one of the oldest Muslim charities in the UK - on its 25th anniversary celebrations and wish you all another 25 years of achievement.