Spotlight
UN High Commissioner for Refugees report highlights $39mn in Islamic giving as lifeline amid global funding cuts
- Nearly 60% of Zakat and Sadaqah contributions came from the Mena region, led by donors in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has released its 8th Islamic Philanthropy Annual Report, highlighting the growing impact of Zakat and Sadaqah in supporting refugees and internally displaced people amid deep humanitarian funding cuts.
In 2025, 45 major donors and Islamic institutions — alongside tens of thousands of online contributors — entrusted UNHCR with distributing their Islamic charitable donations. Through strategic partnerships, the Refugee Zakat Fund, and dedicated campaigns, $39mn was raised, reaching more than 1mn people across 25 countries. Nearly 60% of Zakat and Sadaqah contributions came from the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region, led by donors in the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
The report precedes UNHCR’s Ramadan campaign, which calls for increased support to offset global funding cuts. Reduced budgets have already forced the suspension of critical medical care, child protection, education, and shelter programmes in countries including Egypt, Afghanistan, Lebanon, and Bangladesh, leaving millions increasingly vulnerable.
In 2025, the Refugee Zakat Fund raised more than $23mn, surpassing the previous year, and supported over 579,000 displaced people in 17 countries, including Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Egypt, India, Somalia, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Syria, and Yemen. Sadaqah contributions totalled nearly $16mn, assisting more than 453,000 people across 18 countries.
Dr Khaled Khalifa, UNHCR senior adviser for Islamic Philanthropy and Regional Representative to the GCC, said the funding crisis has left "millions of displaced families hanging on by a thread,” stressing that cuts translate into real-world consequences for those already forced from their homes. He noted that Islamic philanthropy, rooted in faith and compassion, continues to provide practical and sustainable support, helping families rebuild their lives with dignity.
The report also notes an expanded geographic reach, with Islamic philanthropy funding extended to Brazil, Colombia, the Central African Republic, and Botswana. In Bangladesh, Sadaqah Jariyah initiatives provided 280,000 people with access to clean water for communities, agriculture, and livestock.
Since its launch in 2017, the Refugee Zakat Fund has raised more than $300mn from over 70,000 donors, benefiting nearly 10mn people in 36 countries. Backed by 18 fatwas, the fund remains a trusted and compliant channel for Islamic giving. Through continued innovation — including the UN’s only dedicated Zakat app — UNHCR aims to make faith-based giving transparent, efficient, and impactful.