Today in Jakarta, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is organizing a special event to mark the launch of the 2023 Annual Report on Islamic Philanthropy. Representatives of great Islamic groups from Asia and the Pacific are collaborating on this event.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is using this event to boost awareness of the importance of Islamic charity partners in positively impacting the lives of vulnerable refugees and displaced people in Asia and around the globe.
Through the distribution of Zakat and Sadaqah donations received in 2022 from generous Islamic partners, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has helped 1,595,778 refugees and internally displaced individuals (IDPs) in over 20 countries around the globe.
During the launch event, the UNHCR representative in Indonesia made remarks. As of 2021, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Indonesia cooperates with over a dozen different Islamic organizations. Thanks to your support, we were in a position to change the lives of displaced people not only in Indonesia, but additionally around the globe. “On behalf of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), I would like to express my gratitude for your support of the refugee cause and for the contribution you have made,” said Ann Maymann, who lives in Indonesia. “She then said: ‘I have unwavering faith in the ability of the Muslim community in Asia and the Pacific to come together to help those in need and drive change.’
The event, which highlighted the impact of Islamic social finance on vulnerable refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Asia and around the world, was attended by representatives from Islamic foundations as well as other prominent organizations from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
“Unfortunately, the trend of increasing displacement shows no signs of slowing down,” said Khaled Khalifa, senior advisor and representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). We have passed the tragic milestone of 100 million forcibly displaced people worldwide in 2022, with over fifty percent of those people coming from Muslim-majority countries. “There is growing consensus amongst members of the worldwide community that Islamic philanthropy can provide a helpful response to humanitarian crises.
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has established the Zakat Refugee Fund as a reputable, zakat-compliant and effective collaborative mechanism that goals to harness the ability of zakat and sadaqah to support refugee and displaced beneficiary communities. Since the launch of the Refugee Zakat Fund pilot program in 2017, due to contributions from Zakat and Sadaqah partners, UNHCR has supported nearly 6 million refugees and internally displaced individuals in 26 countries. In addition, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) receives funding in the shape of Zakat and Sadaqah that help achieve various Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These include eradicating all types of poverty (SDG 1), eliminating all types of hunger (SDG 2), promoting good health and well-being (SDG 3), ensuring quality education (SDG 4), achieving gender equality (SDG 5) and ensuring clean water and sanitation (SDG 6). (SDG 6).
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has projected that in 2023 there will likely be 117.3 million refugees, internally displaced individuals and other individuals covered by UNHCR’s mandate. This implies that UNHCR’s global needs will total $10.2 billion. This includes over $2.7 billion needed in countries where UNHCR distributes Zakat and Sadaqah to assist over 17 million refugees and displaced individuals in their very own countries through various interventions reminiscent of much-needed money assistance and essential goods.
