The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has urged Muslims and other faith-based organisations to support refugees struggling to cope with the repercussions of the global COVID-19 pandemic through the Refugee Zakat Fund. In a video statement at the official launch of the UNHCR’s 2020 Islamic Philanthropy Report in Qatar, Mr. Khaled Khalifa, Senior Adviser and Regional Representative of the UNHCR to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, said “in the countries where UNHCR operates, the COVID-19 pandemic is an emergency on top of an emergency.”
The report, which highlights the impact of the Refugee Zakat Fund on vulnerable refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) across the globe, revealed that in 2019, the Refugee Zakat Fund received a total of over US$43,165,000 million, including the largest ever single contribution made by the Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani Humanitarian Fund of over USD35 million which has helped to support a total of 164,696 vulnerable families (875,000 individuals).
Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani, founder of the Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani Humanitarian Fund, observed that “Displaced communities are, without a doubt, among the most vulnerable populations that require close and strategic attention from philanthropists wanting to make a serious impact on the state of the globe”. He also expressed gratitude to the Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani Humanitarian Fund and all individuals, Foundations, financial institutions and faith-based organisations that have entrusted UNHCR with their Zakat, thus enabling it to reach over 1 million needy and displaced persons.
Giving a graphic description of the grim situation of refugees and displaced persons worldwide, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr. Filippo Grandi said: “Imagine trying to cope with this (the coronavirus pandemic) crisis with no access to soap and water to wash your hands. No hope of isolating yourself because of overcrowded conditions.
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