UNHCR’s Islamic Philanthropy 2020 Annual Impact Brief

Building on our partnership with UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), we are happy to share with you UNHCR’s Islamic Philanthropy 2020 Annual Impact Brief, which highlights the great achievements of the Refugee Zakat Fund in 2019.
 
The full report can be accessed here. The main findings are as follows:

• During 2019, the Refugee Zakat Fund distributed cash and in-kind assistance to more than 1 million beneficiaries in 8 countries (Bangladesh, Yemen, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Malaysia and Mauritania) with high needs (1,025,014 beneficiaries – 497,191 families).
• In 2019, Zakat funds have covered approximately 12% of UNHCR’s expenditure on cash and in-kind assistance activities identified as Zakat-compliant in the 8 targeted countries.
• The Refugee Zakat Fund received USD 43.16 million in Zakat funding during 2019, including through partner organizations and philanthropists from all around the world, particularly the MENA region. As per our Zakat policy, 100% of these Zakat funds have been distributed to eligible beneficiaries. This includes USD 3.5 million in online donations through the Fund’s digital platform zakat.unhcr.org/en

 
This year, the report comes at very challenging times due to an unprecedented global health crisis. In this context, UNHCR has increased preparedness and response measures to ensure the protection and assistance of those most affected with the evolving coronavirus crisis. For refugee and displaced families who are observing Ramadan far from their homes, faced with poverty, hardship, and uncertainty, the coronavirus pandemic adds another burden to their daily lives. UNHCR activities this holy month will focus on continuing, adapting and increasing delivery of protection, assistance and ensuring access to essential services, particularly in areas with high concentrations of refugees, IDPs, and host communities, thus mitigating some of the negative socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 on families and communities.
 
Imagine what your gift can do for refugees this Ramadan. Please join us in supporting UNHCR and donate now.