Jakarta. Islamic donations channeled through the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR, have assisted more than 1.5 million refugees in 21 countries throughout 2022, according to a report released on Tuesday.

The UN body has managed the Islamic donations known as Zakat and Sadaqah since 2017 to support over 6 million refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in 26 countries, according to the UNHCR Islamic Philanthropy Annual Report released in Jakarta.

Last year, the UNHCR’s Refugee Zakat Funds received $21.4 million in Zakat contributions and another $16.7 million in Sadaqah contributions.

“In 2022, Zakat contributions received through the Refugee Zakat Fund helped more than 727,000 beneficiaries in 17 countries, including refugees in Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia, Mauritania, Pakistan, Somalia, and Tunisia,” the report says. 

These funds have also helped IDPs in Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, and Yemen. 

Meanwhile, Sadaqah funds helped more than 839,000 beneficiaries in 15 countries, including refugees in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Greece, India, Iran, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Malaysia, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Tunisia. Additionally, they have helped IDPs in Afghanistan, Nigeria, Ukraine, and Yemen.

“Today there are more than 100 million people who have been forced from their homes; around half from and in member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). These men, women, and children urgently need help and support,” Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, wrote in the report.

“While governments take the lead in the response, there is also an important role for faith-based philanthropy to help meet the needs of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. The Refugee Zakat Fund remains UNHCR’s flagship Islamic philanthropy vehicle to help address those needs, using Zakat and Sadaqah contributions,” he added.

For 2023, UNHCR’s global needs are predicted to increase to $10.2 billion to assist an expected 117.3 million refugees, IDPs, and other persons of concern, the report says.

More than $2.7 billion of the funds are needed in countries where UNHCR distributes Zakat and Sadaqah to help over 17 million refugees and IDPs.