Charity gets royal seal of approval

The prince asked about Islamic Relief's aid work

Prince Charles visited the charity Islamic Relief's London headquarters on Thursday.

BBC News Online's Margaret Ryan talked to the charity's Afghanistan representative who told the prince about the work being done to meet the humanitarian crisis.

For aid worker Sakandar Ali, the visit by the Prince of Wales to the charity's north London headquarters was a highly visible expression of royal approval for the work being done by this Muslim aid agency to alleviate the plight of Afghan people.

Mr Ali, the charity's Afghanistan representative, has seen first hand the crisis facing ordinary Afghans having worked in the country since March co-ordinating aid.

The ordinary man in Afghanistan wants just daily bread for his children

Sakandar Ali, Islamic Relief

He was evacuated from Kabul as the bombing raids began but still co-ordinates the logistics of getting help to the most needy from the country's borders.

And he keeps in as close contact as possible with the many Afghan workers and volunteers still working inside the country.

He said the television cameras have not captured the true extent of the humanitarian crisis.

"In cities like Kabul and Kandahar there is no water or electricity and little food."

Bewilderment

He said the people of Afghanistan are bewildered by their plight.

"They feel that they are caught in the middle.

"The ordinary man in Afghanistan wants just daily bread for his children.

"He is not concerned about international politics.

Mr Ali co-ordinates the logistics of aid projects

"As a father myself with a 19-month-old child I see those people fleeing with their cots on donkeys and see the fear in the faces of children," Mr Ali said.

Palace approach

It was the Palace that approached the charity saying that the Prince wanted to visit the London headquarters.

"This was a symbolic gesture from the prince and he shared his genuine concern."

The charity says the plight of the Afghans cannot be underestimated

He said Thursday's visit had reinforced his own patriotism.

"The charity has worked in many different areas and to have the British Establishment recognise the efforts of British Muslims in contributing to the British response to the world crisis is much appreciated."

He told the Prince how the charity visited a village of 25 families in the southern peninsula of the country in April where the situation was desperate.

He said how the village elder had told them: "We either wait here and die or we move and try and find food and shelter in the cities".

The charity successfully managed to stop this displacement of families.

However, since the bombing began the charity has had a humanitarian crisis to deal with which cannot be overstated, said Mr Ali.

£10m appeal

The charity has launched a £10m appeal to get aid to those within Afghanistan.

But Mr Ali, who lives in Birmingham when not working abroad, said so far only 19% of the convoys of aid needed within Afghanistan are getting through.

"I feel for the children, the elderly. I've seen the terrain.

Islamic Relief has been working in Afghanistan for nearly ten years

"There are a lot of people who will not be able to flee the cities and get to the borders".

And he knows only too well the risks his own staff have been prepared to take.

When it became clear that the country was to be subjected to US air strikes, Mr Ali told his team in Kabul that they could leave the city to be with their families in the provinces.

"But they told me these are our people.

"This is the time when we are able to do something.

His charity was among those calling for a halt to the bombing while aid was sent through but he said other options were being considered to get supplies into Afghanistan, such as using snowploughs as winter sets in.

Having worked in the war-torn countries of Kosovo and Bosnia, the 31-year-old had been looking forward to working on development projects but has found himself thrown back into a crisis.

But he described his work as "a blessing from God" that he found rewarding both spiritually and personally.