UNHCR Needs 10.2 Billion US Dollars For 117.3 Million Refugees

ILLUSTRATION-UNSPLASH/Julie Ricard

JAKARTA - The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) needs US$10.2 billion to be able to help as many as 117.3 million refugees and internally displaced persons throughout 2023.

"The trend of displacement continues to increase and shows no signs of slowing down," said Senior Adviser and UNHCR Representative for the Cooperation Council of the Gulf States, Khaled Khalifa in Jakarta as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, March 8.

He said that this year also needed more than US$2.7 billion to distribute zakat and sadaqah for more than 17 million refugees and internally displaced persons globally, including in the form of cash assistance and essential goods.

He explained that the need had greatly increased given the trend of displacement that continues to increase and shows no signs of slowing down.

By 2022, UNHCR will pass its most tragic point, with more than 100 million people globally being forced to flee with more than 50 percent of them coming from Muslim-majority countries.

However, he said, Islamic philanthropy was able to offer a valuable solution in responding to this humanitarian crisis.

"UNHCR itself has launched the Refugee Zakat Fund as a credible, zakat-compliant and effective partnership tool to harness the power of zakat and sadaqah in helping refugees," he said.

Since the launch of the first Refugee Zakat Fund in 2017, zakat and sadaqah contributions from donor partners have enabled UNHCR to support more than 6 million refugees and internally displaced persons in 26 countries.

While in 2022, UNHCR has assisted 1,595,778 refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in more than 20 countries globally through the distribution of zakat and sadaqah received from Islamic-based partners.

In addition, the zakat and sadaqah funds received by UNHCR have contributed to the realization of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

That realization, said Khaled Khalifa, regarding Zero Poverty which is the first target of SDGs, Good Health and Welfare which is the third target of SDGs, Quality Education which is the fourth target of SDGs 4, Gender Equality which is the fifth target of SDGs and Clean Water and Sanitation which is the sixth target of SDGs .

Head of UNHCR Representative in Indonesia Ann Maymann added, UNHCR Indonesia has partnered with more than 12 different Islamic organizations since 2021.

According to him, this support and partners have enabled UNHCR Indonesia to provide assistance with a positive impact on the lives of people who have been forced to flee in Indonesia and around the world.

"I really believe in the ability of the Muslim community in Asia and the Pacific to come together to help those in need and drive change," said Ann Maymann.