UNHCR extends collaboration and protection for refugees on its fourth Ramadan campaign in partnership with the Sheikhul Islam Office and Thai Muslim Trade Association
Forced displacement is now affecting more than one percent of humanity. 79.5 million people have been forced to flee from persecution to find safety. With fewer and fewer countries of origin such as Syria, Yemen, Iraq, able to make peace, many Muslims, including Rohingya forced to flee to Bangladesh, have no choice, but to observe the holy month of Ramadan away from home and families in situations of extreme poverty and vulnerability under the exceptional circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic.
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, continues its Ramadan campaign in Thailand for the fourth year in partnership with the Sheikhul Islam Office and extends its private partnership with Thai Muslim Trade Association (TMTA) to expand awareness and raise refugee Zakat funds and Sedekah, to increase protection for refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) during Ramadan.
“Numbers of displaced people continue to rise globally, the highest total that UNHCR has seen during its 70 years protecting people forced to flee,” said Mr. Giuseppe De Vincentiis, UNHCR’s Representative in Thailand. “Refugees, IDPs and host communities have to observe Ramadan in extreme poverty. Collaboration and compassion from all sectors are more fundamentally important today than ever before and it will take only a second for us to help making a difference to the lives of displaced people.”
With generous support received from the Muslim community so far, we are expanding the reach of Zakat funds this year to help refugees and IDPs who are eligible to receive Zakat across Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Mauritania, Yemen and Bangladesh to Thailand and other countries around the world; Turkey, Nigeria, India, Iran, Burkina Farso and Somalia.
“Amidst ongoing displacement crises in many countries, new emergencies and climate change in many areas, multiple Muslims around the world continue to be forcibly displaced. It becomes impossible for one to be able to provide life-saving assistance alone to every family and every single refugee,” said Dr. Zakee Phithakkumpol, Deputy Secretary of Sheikhul Islam. “I am glad to see generosity in response to this humanitarian crisis and this year, we must come together to give our Zakat to another million refugees and IDPs to enable them to observe Ramadan as they deserve.”
UNHCR unveiled its special report “Refugee Zakat Fund”, a global fund aimed at helping individuals and Islamic financial institutions to realize their social responsibility with global impact indicating that, during the first year of its campaign in 2016, UNHCR was able to deliver support to only 740 vulnerable Muslim refugees and IDPs, comprising unaccompanied children, female heads of household, widow and elderly people. It is with incredible support received from Thai Muslims and partnerships around the world, that UNHCR can use Zakat funds to directly assist more than 1 million refugees and IDPs by the end of 2019.
“Sustainable business development needs social cohesion. I would like to stimulate Muslim and all businesses in Thailand to continue taking social responsibility, be a voice in creating a better community, awareness and understanding or help raising funds for society to develop our business and economy sustainably together with the society. We can take our greatness to the global arena for a better world to live in,” said Mr. Davudh Naveewongpanit, Vice President of TMTA
UNHCR has been working with several of today’s leading Islamic legal scholars (fatwas) and institutes in Egypt, Yemen, Morocco and Mauritania and Tabah concluded that UNHCR can collect and distribute Zakat for refugees and IDPs affected by war and conflict to enable them to have enough food, clean water, safe shelter and cash assistance.
The Sheikhul Islam Office and TMTA encourage donations to UNHCR, allowing it to continue its regular programming as well as providing much needed support to meet increased needs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. 100% of contributions will go directly to those vulnerable refugees and displaced people most in need while the Zakat is immediately assigned to eligible refugee families ensuring transparency throughout the process.
Take a second to give your Zakat to those who need it the most today on website at http://unh.cr/6061a47b7a
#UNHCRThailand #EverySecondCounts #Ramadan
About UNHCR
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, leads international action to protect people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We deliver life-saving assistance like shelter, food and water, help safeguard fundamental human rights, and develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place to call home where they can build a better future. We also work to ensure that stateless people are granted a nationality.
About Sheikhul Islam Office
An Islamic affair in Thailand that drives Muslim communities economically, socially, educationally and culturally. The main activities and services include promoting knowledge and understanding on Islamic provisions, educating Muslim personnel and organizations, strengthening family bonds and country’s peacefully multi-cultural living conditions, enhancing partnerships with governments, religions, private sectors and international organizations for best interest of the nation.
Thai Muslim Trade Association (TMTA) is established by a group of a new generation of Muslim businessmen with passion and creativity to form a non-profit organization that will help to build collaboration, encouragement and develop Thai Muslim businesses firmly and sustainably.
About the Ramadan Campaign:
Every year, UNHCR appeals to the public during the month of giving and generosity to help raise funds for refugees and internally displaced families in need. Ramadan campaign focuses on the small, but incredible changes individuals can bring to refugee families during this holy month and invites the public to transform the bittersweet reality of refugee and displaced families observing Ramadan far from their homes, often with little means.
The campaign aims to raise funds, through donations including Zakat and Sadaqah, to help provide lifesaving support such as shelter, food, clean water and monthly cash assistance, to the most vulnerable refugee and internally displaced families in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh. UNHCR’s Zakat initiative in collaboration with Tabah Foundation for Research and Consultation is fully Shariah compliant; backed by fatwas from five respected scholars and institutions; and is endorsed by leading clerics in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Yemen and Morocco to give Zakat to people affected by wars; refugees and displaced people in the region. UNHCR provides life-saving assistance like shelters, food, clean water and cash assistance to the most vulnerable refugee and displaced families in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Zakat will support refugees who are eligible under the eight beneficiaries through transparent process. Learn more about Zakat and donate today at https://zakat.unhcr.org/thai/th
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Bangkok office:
Jennifer Harrison (English) harrison@unhcr.org +66 82 290 8831
Duangmon Sujatanond (Thai) sujatano@unhcr.org +66 81 855 8522