Ramadan is the most sacred month of the year for Muslims. During the entire month of Ramadan(13 April-12 May), Muslim’s focus on strengthening their relationship with God, increase charity and generosity, and intense study of the Quran.
In light of the month of Ramadan, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency has launched the Refugee Zakat Fund in South Africa. The launch took place on the 8th of April 2021 and was moderated by Nancy Aburi, UNHCR Chief of Private Sector Partnerships Africa. The aim of the fund is to help vulnerable refugee and internally displaced persons (IDP) around the world.
The Refugee Zakat Fund waives all collection and administration fees so that one hundred per cent of the donations are distributed to the world’s most vulnerable displaced families. These funds will help forcibly displaced families with cash assistance to pay for rent, food, water, medicine, as well as provide livelihoods assistance and core relief items.
“Every year the number of people forced to flee their homes increases. Last year that number almost reached 80 million people worldwide, over 266,000 of whom are in South Africa,” said Leonard Zulu,UNHCR Representative in the South Africa Multi-Country Office.
According to Zulu, South Africans have been wonderful hosts for refugees. “Many refugees in this country are valuable contributors but it is only collective action can get us through tough times. I call upon everyone to work together, keep safe and stay hopeful during the COVID-19 pandemic, “said Zulu.
“South Africa’s Muslim community can play an important role in supporting families forced to flee with UNHCR’s game-changing Islamic Philanthropy mechanism,” said Adv. Mohamed Shafie Ameermia, who was part of the panel.
In 2020, the Refugee Zakat Fund assisted more than 1.6 million forcibly displaced persons with critical support including cash assistance and the provision of emergency relief items to Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and India, Yemeni, Iraqi and Nigerian IDPs, Syrian refugees in Jordan, Egypt, and Lebanon, in addition to Malian refugees in Mauritania.
This year, the Refugee Zakat Fund is accessible to Muslims in South Africa to dedicate their Zakat to UNHCR, supporting refugees and IDP’s in dire need around the world.
The Refugee Zakat Fund waives all collection and administration fees so that one hundred per cent of the donations are distributed to the world’s most vulnerable displaced families. These funds will help forcibly displaced families with cash assistance to pay for rent, food, water, medicine, as well as provide livelihoods assistance and core relief items
“By joining hands with faith communities across the continent and providing a trusted route to make an impact on the lives of the most vulnerable displaced persons, I strongly believe we have the capacity to address some of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time — namely the forced displacement crisis,” said Aburi.
To learn more about the Refugee Zakat Fund visit: https://zakat.unhcr.org/africa
