Ex-Blackburn Mayor heads to Sahara desert on charity mission

Salim Mulla, who now leads the Blackburn based charity Aid 4 Ummah, headed deep into the Sahara desert and visited 17 villages which are completely cut off from the outside world.

He said: “Despite travelling extensively to other parts of Africa and the world, I have honestly never come across a community so desperately in need of help than these villages.”

Mr Mulla visited Mauritania which is located in the Western Sahara bordering Algeria, Senegal and Mali in West Africa.

Mr Mulla had spent nearly a month in the region and travelled for 30 hours to reach some of the most furthermost villages.

The families said the nearest doctor was seven hours away.

Mr Mulla who was joined by local guides said the population were living in ‘abject poverty’ but he was inspired by their positive outlook and hospitality.

He said: “They have no access to electricity and a severe lack of adequate access to mosques, madrassas, water, food, shelter, sanitation, healthcare, employment and education.

"I have never experienced a community living in such high levels of poverty, hardship and ignorance in our religion anywhere in the world."

Mr Mulla said: "It is deeply moving to hear their experiences.

“In particular, during the summer months (April-July) life in this area becomes extremely challenging.  

"They also had no toilets or bathrooms in the entire village, so the village chief and some fellow villagers were kind enough to construct one for me… albeit Mauritanian style!

"A six foot hole was dug in the sand, two short towers of stool placed either side and clothing attached to tree branches placed around the area to give some privacy.

"This was perhaps the first toilet to have ever been constructed in that area.”

Mr Mulla is spearheading a campaign to improve water supply and education facilities in the area.

He said: “All 17 village chiefs said water is our main needs. We will survive without Masjid or medical help. We would love one borehole in each village. 

“I was pleased to be able to make a small difference during my short stay. This included distributing clothes and cash to the poor children, and milking goats to a selection of widows, orphans and disabled families, and food parcels.”