the flying doctor

The Flying Doctor

The story of one man’s determination to help some of the poorest people on Earth.

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John Cookson talks to Dr Hany El Bana

In The Flying Doctor Al Jazeera’s John Cookson joins Dr Hany El Banna, the president of UK-based charity Islamic Relief, on a journey across 6000 kilometers in Sudan.

It is a country ravaged by decades of war that left thousands dead and millions displaced.

The arduous journey by air and land takes them from the south of the country to war-torn Darfur in the west.

In the south peace has allowed charities like Islamic Relief to provide the most basic amenities; medical care, water supplies and schools.

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When the plane touches down in the south it is to a rapturous welcome from locals and those who travelled just to be there.

But, far away in the refugee camps of Darfur it is a different story. There Islamic Relief staff struggle just to protect the refugees from attack.

In one camp where more than 10,000 refugees have lived for the past three years a refugee had been killed just three days earlier.

Sudan is a country close to Dr Hany’s heart. His organisation started working there more than 30 years ago in response to devastating floods and famine.

Over thirty years later, Islamic Relief has grown into a major charity working in some of the poorest parts of the world and Dr Hany has been recognised as one of the most powerful and influential Muslims in the UK.

The Flying Doctor is the story of his determination to help some of the poorest and most desperate people on Earth.

The programme aired 06 June 2007.

Watch Part One here:

Watch Part Two here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSjsur4qku4


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