To cover the overall needs of 8.6 million refugees and internally displaced persons in the eight countries where Zakat distribution is active, UNHCR requires $2.1 billion in 2020, out of which, $482.7 million is identified as zakat compliant activities, which could be funded through the Refugee Zakat Fund, and assist 2.2 million persons of concern.

While the overall UNHCR budgetary need for 2020 across all its operations globally is at $8.67 billion, it has appealed for extra funds to cover the additional costs rising from its COVID-19 response.

The UN Refugee Agency is clear on how to meet its 2020 budgetary needs ($8.67 bln), considering the pandemic and that businesses and economies are heavily affected. 

"In response to the pandemic, UNHCR has appealed for an additional $255 million in funds, to help curb the risk and lessen the impact of COVID-19 outbreak amongst refugee and internally displaced populations and their host communities, as part of a wider UN Global Humanitarian Response," Khaled Khalifa, Senior Advisor and Representative to the GCC at UNHCR told Zawya.

As the world is witnessing heightened philanthropic activity on the backdrop of COVID-19, UNHCR is planning to bridge the gap in funding shortfalls by diversifying its fundraising channels and providing safe, innovative solutions for both donation and receipts of humanitarian aid.

“One such example is the Refugee Zakat Fund and potentially other faith-based contributions which can help fund a significant part of these needs,” he said.

The Refugee Zakat Fund raised a total of $43.16 million in 2019, with $3.51 raised through its digital platform, (zakat.unhcr.org) and $39.65 million through institutional partners and philanthropists.

Donors in MENA countries, notably from the GCC, contributed a significant 99 percent of zakat contributions in 2019, to help address immediate needs of extremely vulnerable refugee families, including shelter, food, education, healthcare and debt repayments.

"This includes a generous $35.2 million contribution from a philanthropist and $4.4 million from foundations, HNWI’s, banks and corporations," Khalifa told Zawya.

Thanks to the contributions, in 2019, the Refugee Zakat Fund was able to deliver life-saving assistance to 1,025,014 refugees and IDPs in Bangladesh, Yemen, Iraq, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia and Mauritania.

(Writing by Seban Scaria seban.scaria@refinitiv.com, editing by Daniel Luiz)

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