The UN reported on Friday that money for its refugee operations was increasing thanks to an Islamic philanthropy platform created specifically to collect the alms demanded of Muslims by their faith.
The UN agency for refugees said a day after the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan that it was becoming increasingly possible to use contributions that are required under Islamic law to support its initiatives.
Since it began as a pilot program in 2017, the UNHCR’s Refugee Zakat Fund collected close to $200 million via Sadaqah, or voluntary charity contributions, as well as from Zakat, one of Islam’s five pillars.
“During the last five years, we managed to assist six million people, mainly in Muslim countries, with the Zakat and the Sadaqah,” Khaled Khalifa, UNHCR’s representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, told reporters.
The main beneficiary activities have been for Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, and internally displaced individuals in Yemen.
In total, 26 countries received aid in the form of cash assistance and other types of aid.
