Charity in Katrina relief effort

A worldwide charity based in Birmingham has pledged to raise at least $2m (£1.1m) to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina in the US.

Islamic Relief is co-ordinating fund-raising and relief efforts through its office in Los Angeles.

It said the disaster had left over 1m people displaced and would require the largest relief effort in US history.

Islamic Relief is concentrating on helping victims who have fled to Mobile, Baton Rouge, Houston and LA.

Emergency shelter

In Houston, it is working in co-ordination with the Muslim community to help over 25,000 victims.

In addition to Islamic Relief staff working on the ground, over 700 volunteers are being mobilised to help in the relief efforts.

In Baton Rouge and Mobile, it is working on the ground to set up relief operations, and will be distributing urgently-needed items such as water, food, and hygiene kits.

The charity is also planning to provide emergency shelter for the displaced people and will assist in the clean-up efforts in hurricane-affected areas of the city.

The charity sent planeloads of supplies to countries hit by the Asian tsunami on Boxing Day.