The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has launched the "Zakat Fund for Refugees" as a global Islamic financing program to assist forcibly displaced persons. This fund will help 154,740 families of the most vulnerable IDPs and refugees in Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Mauritania and Egypt.

The Commission noted that the Islamic world has the ability to raise philanthropy to new levels, through the use of tens of billions of dollars of Zakat funds, and directing them to the most pressing issues of our time.

The launch of the Zakat Fund is a global fund that meets the needs of displaced communities and helps Islamic institutions and individuals realize their community responsibilities.

The report, "The Zakat Program at UNHCR: The Annual Report 2019", was published by JD Standard, an institution specialized in research and strategic growth consultancy.

The report noted that UNHCR received approximately $ 14.4 million through the zakat program between 2016 and 2018, and distributed cash assistance to 6888 refugee families, mostly Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon.

Islamic individuals and institutions will be able to pay zakat efficiently and safely through a fund cleared by the Commission, where 100% of the Zakat funds are fully paid to the needy refugees and internally displaced persons who are most in need in full compliance with the Shariah provisions. It is supported by fatwas issued by the official fatwa and senior scholars And is subject to a strict governance process that ensures full transparency. UNHCR hopes that it will be able to fund an estimated US $ 208.6 million to help at least 154,000 displaced and refugee families in need.

"Over the past years, we have witnessed a growing demand for the Zakat program of the UNHCR, which allows the delivery of Zakat funds to its eligible refugees, and has a positive impact on the lives of the most needy people in the world," said Hossam Shaheen, Private Sector Relations Officer for the Middle East and North Africa region. "At a time when the importance of Islamic finance in the global economy is emerging, we have today launched the first Annual Report on Zakat from the City of Dubai, which celebrates tolerance this year and in line with its growing role as the capital of the Islamic economy. It is worth mentioning that the Zakat Fund is in line with the practices of the Islamic finance sector and enhances confidence and transparency in every step, from paying zakat funds easily and safely around the world, and distributing them to the beneficiaries of the refugees.

"Zakat can contribute tens of billions of dollars in addressing pressing issues and global humanitarian needs," said Rafiduddin Sheikho, chief executive officer of JD Standard.

"The Zakat funds that the Muslims are committed to can provide an effective solution to bridge the funding gap facing UNHCR. Sixty percent of the total of 68.5 million forcibly displaced around the world (about 40.8 million) are eligible for Zakat."

The Executive Secretary of the Global Zakat Forum, Dr. Irfan Shawki Peak, said: "Finding solutions to the refugee crisis is a responsibility of the leaders of the relevant countries and stakeholders, including the world's zakat institutions. The role of UNHCR's Zakat Program is to ensure that the basic needs of refugees are met. Therefore, a partnership between the Forum and UNHCR can be developed in three key areas: capacity-building, improving the distribution of Zakat for refugees, and advocacy and advocacy campaigns. " The launch event was attended by a number of representatives of the National Zakat Agency in Indonesia, on behalf of the World Zakat Forum.

UNHCR's total budget for 2019 is about $ 7.9 billion, to respond to all the needs of refugees, internally displaced persons and other persons of concern to UNHCR.

- 100% of Zakat funds will arrive in full

To refugees and internally displaced persons

The most needy.