Islamic Relief Worldwide (IR) launched the Beilin Irrigation Development Project in April 2006 to improve irrigation systems in the village of Dawantou. Seventy hectares of farmland will be fed by new on-site irrigation systems that will use the existing mains water supply. IR is working in partnership with a local organisation on this project.

Dawantou village is located in the dry, mountainous region of Beilin in Dongxiang County. This area of north-western China relies heavily on agriculture and Dongxiang has become famous for sheep-rearing and the potatoes that are grown in the region.

Water is scarce in Dongxiang and the county suffers shortages all year round. When there is very little rainfall, grain becomes rationed. This has seriously affected the health and livelihoods of the local population. As a result, the people of Dongxiang are keen to develop irrigation systems to increase their yield.

Project Objectives

• To increase crop yields;
• To promote better cultivation methods;
• To ensure food security all year round;
• To expand the industry of sheep-rearing by providing a better water supply;
• To increase the income of Dawantou village and the surrounding areas;
• Long-term goal of stabilising Dawantou’s fragile rural economy and improving the living conditions of its people;

Project Activities

• Designing the irrigation system;
• Construction a pipeline for the irrigation system, which will include installing sprinklers and constructing open canals;
• Building 4 reservoirs;
• Training farmers and other members of the local community on how to operate the irrigation system; 

"Islamic Relief is striving for a fairer world. Our mission is to help the poor and needy to live sustainable, self-reliant lives within safe and caring communities. Our work is guided and shaped by the core values of accountability, humanitarianism, neutrality and impartiality, inclusiveness, integrity and co-operation, all of which are also integral to the Islamic faith."
Dr Hany El Banna - Founder of Islamic Relief

Islamic Relief was established in 1984 and our unique approach is the result of these many years of hands-on experience.

1. Where possible we adopt a community partnership-based approach; encouraging community involvement, understanding and ownership of projects.
2. We run the majority of our field projects ourselves, giving us direct insight into the problems faced and how best to solve them.
3. We aim to empower those we help in order to achieve sustainable results.
4. Though our emergency response teams are quick to respond to emergencies around the world, we continue to support communities long after the initial media interest has died down.
5. We recruit staff locally to benefit from their local knowledge. This ensures that we are culturally sensitive and allows us to reach communities and areas other organisations cannot.
6. Where necessary we coordinate our work with other reputable aid agencies, local organisations and governments.

Millennium Development Goals

Islamic Relief is committed to the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which have been agreed by the world’s leading development institutions in an effort to meet the needs of the world’s poorest by the year 2015. 

The goals:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equality and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Improve maternal health
6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
7. Ensure environmental sustainability
8. Develop a global partnership for development

For more information about the MDGs, please visit: http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/