The KSA Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has activated the smart card digital identity initiative to provide services to Hajj pilgrims for the second year running. While the cards were used on a small scale in 2019, the service was expanded in 2020 to include all pilgrims and participants.
Dr Amr Al-Maddah, Supervisor General of the Planning and Development Agency at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, said that the smart cards are part of the ministry’s strategy for digital transformation via creating virtual platforms to facilitate and reduce procedures, keep pace with the technological developments and achieve the goals of the Vision 2030 Executive Programme called Serving Pilgrims. He added that the smart cards are extensions of the Smart Hajj platform project launched by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
Each card includes the pilgrim’s personal, medical and residential information, which are required for various services, such as guiding pilgrims to their residence at holy sites, controlling access to facilities, and reducing illegal Hajj. The cards also include near-field communications (NFC) to read Hajj data through self-service machines as well as a barcode that can be read by Hajj support staff.
Showing posts with label 1441. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1441. Show all posts
Sunday, 2 August 2020
Saturday, 1 August 2020
Fatwa Robot service launched during the Hajj
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| Source: KSA Ministry of Media. The Fatwa Robot service enables fatwas safely when social distancing is required. |
The KSA Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance, represented by the Directorate General of Information Technology, has launched the Fatwa Robot service. Through this service, the Ministry has sought to apply state-of-the-art technology in line with its commitment to Saudi Vision 2030, and to implement the health protocols inherent to this year’s Hajj.
The service issues religious rulings and consultations to pilgrims in a move considered the first in the field of religious rulings and consultations. The service also bolsters health protocols through social distancing.
This roaming service, currently in service at the Namirah and Grand Mosques, will allow for direct visual communication between pilgrims and a team of Muftis from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Dawah and Guidance. It will also facilitate the remote issuance of Fatwas in multiple languages.
The Namirah mosque (مسجد الإجابة), marks the location where the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) camped before delivering his final sermon. The Grand Mosque or Masjid Al-Haram (المسجد الحرام) encloses the Ka'abah.
Friday, 31 July 2020
Safety precautions in place at Hajj
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| Source: KSA Ministry of Media. Haider. |
Hani Haider said health preventive measures had been taken at the holy sites to ensure the safety of Hajj pilgrims. “One of the precautions taken by the General Presidency [for the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques] was allocating a number of doors for the entry of pilgrims and different doors for their exit,” he said.
The General Presidency also recruited 3,500 workers to work 24x7 in sterilisation and purification of the Masjid al-Haram, he disclosed. Scents are also applied.
In addition, all fountains of the Zamzam well were have been closed, with sterilised bottles of Zamzam water available to pilgrims instead.
Eid prayers to take place in Qatar
The Qatari Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs has announced that Eid prayers will occur in 401 mosques and praying areas, the Qatar News Agency has reported.
The prayer will begin at 5.15 am.
The prayer will begin at 5.15 am.
Monday, 27 July 2020
Eid holidays extended in Oman
HM Sultan Haitham Bin Tarik of Oman has commanded that the Eid Al-Adha holidays for public and private sectors be extended to 16 Dhulhijjah 1441, corresponding to August 6, 2020, the Oman News Agency has reported. Work officially resumes on 19 Dhulhijjah 1441, August 9.
The Supreme Committee of Oman has asked residents to exercise extreme caution during the Eid al-Adha holidays while a total lockdown to stem COVID-19 is in effect. The committee has requested that the public limit movement during the day and avoid family unions and any other social gatherings, as gathering can cause the virus to spread. The committee has also called for firm enforcement of violations.
Under the lockdown rules, there is no travel between governorates, and a curfew from 7 pm to 6 am. Public places and business outlets are closed.
The Supreme Committee of Oman has asked residents to exercise extreme caution during the Eid al-Adha holidays while a total lockdown to stem COVID-19 is in effect. The committee has requested that the public limit movement during the day and avoid family unions and any other social gatherings, as gathering can cause the virus to spread. The committee has also called for firm enforcement of violations.
Under the lockdown rules, there is no travel between governorates, and a curfew from 7 pm to 6 am. Public places and business outlets are closed.
Wednesday, 24 June 2020
Hajj downscaled for 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns
The KSA Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has announced a scaled-down Hajj in the light of COVID-19 being still active around the world, without a cure.
Hajj this year (1441) will be hosted for a limited number of pilgrims from various nationalities who already reside in KSA, allowing country to ensure social distancing for pilgrims in alignment with Islamic tenets about preserving the lives of human beings.
In a Saudi Press Agency report, the ministry cited a need to preserve global public health and the challenge maintaining safe social distancing in a crowded environment such as with the Hajj. According to the ministry, KSA's top priority is to enable Muslim pilgrims to perform Hajj and umrah safely.
The Omani Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs said those who had registered electronically for Hajj in 2020 would not incur obligations. It will announce registration mechanisms for the next season in due course, said the Oman News Agency.
The Haj Committee of India is automatically refunding hajj fees for pilgrims.
Some countries, like Singapore, had earlier said they would not be organising Hajj for pilgrims this year.
Hajj this year (1441) will be hosted for a limited number of pilgrims from various nationalities who already reside in KSA, allowing country to ensure social distancing for pilgrims in alignment with Islamic tenets about preserving the lives of human beings.
In a Saudi Press Agency report, the ministry cited a need to preserve global public health and the challenge maintaining safe social distancing in a crowded environment such as with the Hajj. According to the ministry, KSA's top priority is to enable Muslim pilgrims to perform Hajj and umrah safely.
The Omani Ministry of Awqaf and Religious Affairs said those who had registered electronically for Hajj in 2020 would not incur obligations. It will announce registration mechanisms for the next season in due course, said the Oman News Agency.
The Haj Committee of India is automatically refunding hajj fees for pilgrims.
Some countries, like Singapore, had earlier said they would not be organising Hajj for pilgrims this year.
Thursday, 30 April 2020
Ramadhan marketing during the COVID-19 era
Think with Google says that there is currently no playbook for marketing during a crisis, but data may show a way. "Now more than ever, we rely on digital platforms to seek information,
entertainment or buy what we need. Understanding this behavior is
essential for marketers to develop truly agile campaigns for Ramadan," say Dina Barakat, Sara Hamdan and Muriel Makarim in an April blog post.
Barakat, Hamdan and Makarim - who are a Product Marketing Manager with Google, Editor of Think with Google MENA and Large Advertiser and Agency Marketing Manager of Google Indonesia respectively - say that users are spending more time online consuming content, learning new skills and investing in new hobbies. They are also shopping for essentials from home. Google data shows a 1.8X growth in delivery searches worldwide.
In connecting to consumers thoughtfully, the authors suggest three tips:
- Capture the feeling of being together without being physically together
Take into account how social distancing changes Ramadhan traditions while delivering the same message of care and love:
Indonesian beauty brand Wardah has created a virtual platform where users can try on different shades of lip colour, the blog post notes. Other suggestions include broadcasting content that can be watched together; enabling people to add filters to shared pictures and videos, and using Google's Qalam app which sends customised Ramadhan greeting cards.
- Embrace changes in Ramadhan consumer trends
People are unlikely to shop at brick-and-mortar stores, and will request contactless delivery solutions, the blog authors said.
Given that e-commerce will likely be popular, Google recommends that e-commerce sites enhance the user experience with options such as gift-wrapping, customised cards or discounted add-ons.
Cooking will be another bright spot, with Google observing that search queries for recipes have surpassed 2019 peaks in Indonesia. Innovation ideas include recipe recommendations and online cookalongs.
Other possibilities for a better experience could include no-penalty date changes and refunds for event tickets, as airlines in Singapore have offered, and real-time updates for available inventory, and providing accurate delivery times.
Ensuring that a website loads easily is another Google tip. Google has a tool called Test My Site which measures a mobile site's loading speed.
- Contingency plans
Incremental changes to existing assets, refreshing assets without filming through animation or repurposing existing creatives, as well as keeping up to date with Google Trends will help brands stay responsive, Google said.
Barakat, Hamdan and Makarim - who are a Product Marketing Manager with Google, Editor of Think with Google MENA and Large Advertiser and Agency Marketing Manager of Google Indonesia respectively - say that users are spending more time online consuming content, learning new skills and investing in new hobbies. They are also shopping for essentials from home. Google data shows a 1.8X growth in delivery searches worldwide.
In connecting to consumers thoughtfully, the authors suggest three tips:
- Capture the feeling of being together without being physically together
Take into account how social distancing changes Ramadhan traditions while delivering the same message of care and love:
Indonesian beauty brand Wardah has created a virtual platform where users can try on different shades of lip colour, the blog post notes. Other suggestions include broadcasting content that can be watched together; enabling people to add filters to shared pictures and videos, and using Google's Qalam app which sends customised Ramadhan greeting cards.
- Embrace changes in Ramadhan consumer trends
People are unlikely to shop at brick-and-mortar stores, and will request contactless delivery solutions, the blog authors said.
Given that e-commerce will likely be popular, Google recommends that e-commerce sites enhance the user experience with options such as gift-wrapping, customised cards or discounted add-ons.
Cooking will be another bright spot, with Google observing that search queries for recipes have surpassed 2019 peaks in Indonesia. Innovation ideas include recipe recommendations and online cookalongs.
Other possibilities for a better experience could include no-penalty date changes and refunds for event tickets, as airlines in Singapore have offered, and real-time updates for available inventory, and providing accurate delivery times.
Ensuring that a website loads easily is another Google tip. Google has a tool called Test My Site which measures a mobile site's loading speed.
- Contingency plans
Incremental changes to existing assets, refreshing assets without filming through animation or repurposing existing creatives, as well as keeping up to date with Google Trends will help brands stay responsive, Google said.
Moka sees F&B down, but delivery services grow during Ramadhan
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| Source: Moka. |
The company found that daily business revenues in the food and beverage (F&B) sector were down more than 40% during the COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia, with one out of every three F&B businesses in Indonesia suffering significant losses. However, revenue for delivery services were up by as much as 30%.
During Ramadhan in 2019, there had been up to a 67% rise in the number of food and beverage (F&B) outlets operating between 2 and 4 am. During these hours, consumers would tend to choose practical food for their suhoor (سحور, pre-dawn meal) and purchase up to five products during each transaction for group servings.
In the fashion retail industry, there had been up to a 50% revenue increase for Ramadhan 2019. The most popular items sold during Ramadhan would be tunics, hijabs and Islamic gowns (modesty clothing), which would see sales gradually decline after Ramadhan. Beauty services would instead enjoy higher revenues, by up to 54%, one month after Ramadhan. This shows that the public tends to seek beauty treatments once Ramadan concludes.
Although consumption patterns in Indonesia have changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the trends seen during Ramadhan 2019 cannot be entirely disregarded, said Moka. Moka Data Analyst Hutami Nadya said that one strategy that merits focus is online shopping.
To maximise shopping that makes use of delivery services, whether in the F&B as well as the service and retail industries, businesses can innovate by issuing special delivery menus that can be processed and cooked by the consumers themselves for suhoor and iftar (إفطار, breaking of the fast) with the family at home. This also applies in the retail and service industry, where businesses can introduce special packages for sale online.
"Businesses may take note of trends in society. For instance, for the purpose of cooking at home, F&B merchants are shifting to provide ready-to-cook food ingredients while providing the option of delivery services to support social distancing. Additionally, Ramadhan is the right moment to share with those who need more. We can start by adding the option of a menu to be donated to those in need. To record positive cashflow, merchants may also apply the pay-it-forward scheme for customers," she said.
Pay-it-forward is a prepayment scheme that allows customers to purchase product or service packages from a business that are delivered in the future. Businesses would usually offer price reductions in the form of coupons for customers. This scheme is expected to assist businesses to book positive cashflow for such purposes as rent, employee salaries, business capital installments, insurance, supplies of raw materials, repairs and other expenses.
Moka supports 40,000 merchants across 200 cities in Indonesia with an end-to-end solution that consists of POS, payments, loyalty, accounting, ingredient procurement, and business loans. The company's products include Moka Pay, Moka Fresh, Moka Capital, and Moka Connect to complement its POS services.
Sunday, 26 April 2020
Celebrate Ramadan Together in Singapore
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| Source: NHB website. Logo for Ramadan Together. |
The Ramadan Together page explains what Ramadhan is all about, debunks myths and offers a month-long celebration of virtual activities.
Explore:
Learn more about the activities
Hashtags: #OurSGHeritage, #IntangibleCulturalHeritage, #SGUnited, #CultureCarriesOn, #DoseOfCulture, #onxonrayafest, #malayheritagecentre
Saturday, 25 April 2020
Islamic Council of Victoria announces funding initiatives
The Islamic Council of Victoria (ICV) welcomes the announcement from Minister Ros Spence, Victorian Minister for Multicultural Affairs, that the Victorian government will be providing A$20,000 to support halal food pack distributions to needy families.
ICV President Mohamed Mohideen said, "We'd like to thank Minister Spence and the Victorian government for this much-needed financial contribution that will allow the ICV to continue our work supporting Muslim families, refugees and international students during the holy month of Ramadhhan, made even more urgent during this challenging time."
The ICV has set up a separate emergency fund of A$20,000 for Muslim families experiencing severe financial hardship due to the COVID-19 crisis.
In addition, the ICV started an initiative to help mosques leverage online technology to connect with their communities. The government in Victoria are providing A$5,000 to cover the costs of subscribing to Zoom.
"The current restrictions on community gatherings provide an opportunity for Muslim families to focus on the message of spiritual renewal and empathy for those less fortunate, as a family," Mohideen said.
The Grand Mufti of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamad, had earlier announced that Ramadhan would begin in Australia on 24 April as the moon was visible after sunset for 19 minutes in Sydney, and for 22 minutes in Perth.
ICV President Mohamed Mohideen said, "We'd like to thank Minister Spence and the Victorian government for this much-needed financial contribution that will allow the ICV to continue our work supporting Muslim families, refugees and international students during the holy month of Ramadhhan, made even more urgent during this challenging time."
The ICV has set up a separate emergency fund of A$20,000 for Muslim families experiencing severe financial hardship due to the COVID-19 crisis.
In addition, the ICV started an initiative to help mosques leverage online technology to connect with their communities. The government in Victoria are providing A$5,000 to cover the costs of subscribing to Zoom.
"The current restrictions on community gatherings provide an opportunity for Muslim families to focus on the message of spiritual renewal and empathy for those less fortunate, as a family," Mohideen said.
The Grand Mufti of Australia, Dr Ibrahim Abu Mohamad, had earlier announced that Ramadhan would begin in Australia on 24 April as the moon was visible after sunset for 19 minutes in Sydney, and for 22 minutes in Perth.
Friday, 24 April 2020
Ramadhan begins in Singapore
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) has announced the beginning of Ramadhan on 23 April.
The organisation noted that according to astronomical calculations, the new crescent marking the start of Ramadhan appeared in the evening of 23 April after sunset for about 17 minutes. As such, the first day of fasting began on 24 April 2020.
"We welcome the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan this year with a different atmosphere. Our country, as well as the rest of the world, is currently fighting the COVID-19 outbreak. Besides the act of fasting, we should also play our part to stay at home to prevent the spread of this deadly virus," said Singapore's Mufti, Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir.
"This year, Ramadhan and Hari Raya (Eid al-Fitr, or Aidilfitri) will be celebrated together with our family in our own homes. No matter the test, we can accept and overcome it with the permission of Allah S.W.T., what more with the arrival of Ramadhan – a month of challenges, and the culmination of patience, perseverance and hope.
"As we strengthen our faith this Ramadhan, may it also spur us to be more determined to fight this virus. This test will eventually pass, and we will overcome this with patience and unity."
Muis separately announced that zakat fitrah rates for Ramadhan this year are S$5.10 or S$7.50. Zakat fitrah is an obligatory contribution by all Muslims during the month of Ramadhan, with the amount determined by the Muis Zakat and Fitrah Committee, by using staple food of the country that the person resides in.
As rice is the staple food here, the rates are based on the median price of 2.3 kg of the grade of rice that is generally consumed by the Muslim community.
The two-tier zakat fitrah rate has been in place since 2005 to facilitate those who may wish to pay more than the normal rate as they consume a higher grade of rice. Zakat payers may choose the rate that is most suitable based on their daily consumption.
The deadline for zakat fitrah is the morning of Eid al-Fitr. However, the Muslim public is advised to pay early and through electronic modes of payment in light of the current COVID-19 situation.
Explore:
Watch the announcement of Ramadhan by Dr Nazirudin on SalamSG TV.
Details:
Various methods to pay zakat fitrah are available in Singapore.
PayNow is a new mode of payment. Payers can make payment by scanning the QR code or by keying in the UEN T08GB0028LZKT on their banking app. To obtain an official receipt and for IRAS tax auto-inclusion, payers should visit go.gov.sg/zakat.
The organisation noted that according to astronomical calculations, the new crescent marking the start of Ramadhan appeared in the evening of 23 April after sunset for about 17 minutes. As such, the first day of fasting began on 24 April 2020.
"We welcome the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan this year with a different atmosphere. Our country, as well as the rest of the world, is currently fighting the COVID-19 outbreak. Besides the act of fasting, we should also play our part to stay at home to prevent the spread of this deadly virus," said Singapore's Mufti, Dr Nazirudin Mohd Nasir.
"This year, Ramadhan and Hari Raya (Eid al-Fitr, or Aidilfitri) will be celebrated together with our family in our own homes. No matter the test, we can accept and overcome it with the permission of Allah S.W.T., what more with the arrival of Ramadhan – a month of challenges, and the culmination of patience, perseverance and hope.
"As we strengthen our faith this Ramadhan, may it also spur us to be more determined to fight this virus. This test will eventually pass, and we will overcome this with patience and unity."
Muis separately announced that zakat fitrah rates for Ramadhan this year are S$5.10 or S$7.50. Zakat fitrah is an obligatory contribution by all Muslims during the month of Ramadhan, with the amount determined by the Muis Zakat and Fitrah Committee, by using staple food of the country that the person resides in.
As rice is the staple food here, the rates are based on the median price of 2.3 kg of the grade of rice that is generally consumed by the Muslim community.
The two-tier zakat fitrah rate has been in place since 2005 to facilitate those who may wish to pay more than the normal rate as they consume a higher grade of rice. Zakat payers may choose the rate that is most suitable based on their daily consumption.
The deadline for zakat fitrah is the morning of Eid al-Fitr. However, the Muslim public is advised to pay early and through electronic modes of payment in light of the current COVID-19 situation.
Explore:
Watch the announcement of Ramadhan by Dr Nazirudin on SalamSG TV.
Details:
Various methods to pay zakat fitrah are available in Singapore.
PayNow is a new mode of payment. Payers can make payment by scanning the QR code or by keying in the UEN T08GB0028LZKT on their banking app. To obtain an official receipt and for IRAS tax auto-inclusion, payers should visit go.gov.sg/zakat.
Wednesday, 22 April 2020
Cook at home with Fatafeat this Ramadhan
Fatafeat is inviting families to help create their very own 'home of Arabic cooking' this Ramadhan with the launch of brand-new seasons of Ramadhan favourites such as Matbakh Manal Alalem, Shu Biyheb Al Orf and Bil Afya Maa Hayat.
Matbakh Manal Alalem
Widely regarded as the Queen of the Arabian Kitchen, Chef Manal Alalem showcases a new four-course set menu of appetiser, main course, dessert and accompanying beverage, featuring some of Manal's own creations.
Matbakh Manal Alalem airs daily during Ramadhan at noon KSA time.
Shu Biyheb Al Orf
Chef Mohammad Orfali invites you into his home kitchen in Shu Biyheb Al Orf where he crafts three recipes from a mix of cuisines around the world and shares his personal stories behind each dish.
Shu Biyheb Al Orf airs Mondays and Wednesdays during Ramadhan at 12:55 pm KSA time.
Bil Afya Maa Hayat
Emirati Chef Hayat Al Shaibani explores the flavours of the GCC and beyond in four-course menus from appetisers to main dishes and desserts, topped off with an accompanying beverage. Every menu either uses the foundations of a traditional GCC-inspired menu but has an international twist, or cleverly incorporates GCC cooking techniques within international menus.
Bil Afya Maa Hayat airs Tuesday-Thursdays and Saturdays during Ramadhan at 1:50pm KSA time
Explore:
Watch beIN channel 351 or via YouTube.
 |
| Source: Fatafeat. Chef Manal. |
Widely regarded as the Queen of the Arabian Kitchen, Chef Manal Alalem showcases a new four-course set menu of appetiser, main course, dessert and accompanying beverage, featuring some of Manal's own creations.
Matbakh Manal Alalem airs daily during Ramadhan at noon KSA time.
Shu Biyheb Al Orf
Chef Mohammad Orfali invites you into his home kitchen in Shu Biyheb Al Orf where he crafts three recipes from a mix of cuisines around the world and shares his personal stories behind each dish.
Shu Biyheb Al Orf airs Mondays and Wednesdays during Ramadhan at 12:55 pm KSA time.
Bil Afya Maa Hayat
Emirati Chef Hayat Al Shaibani explores the flavours of the GCC and beyond in four-course menus from appetisers to main dishes and desserts, topped off with an accompanying beverage. Every menu either uses the foundations of a traditional GCC-inspired menu but has an international twist, or cleverly incorporates GCC cooking techniques within international menus.
Bil Afya Maa Hayat airs Tuesday-Thursdays and Saturdays during Ramadhan at 1:50pm KSA time
Explore:
Watch beIN channel 351 or via YouTube.
Tuesday, 21 April 2020
Refugee Zakat Fund has over 1 million zakat beneficiaries
- UNHCR urges Muslims to support refugees struggling to cope with the repercussions of the global COVID-19 outbreak through the Refugee Zakat Fund
- In 2019, the Refugee Zakat Fund received US$43,165,000, allowing UNHCR to provide lifesaving support to over 1 million refugees and internally-displaced persons
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has launched the findings of its 2020 Islamic Philanthropy Report, highlighting the impact of the Refugee Zakat Fund on vulnerable refugees and internally-displaced persons (IDPs) across the globe. Zakat (زكاة) is an obligatory form of alms-giving for Muslims who meet the criteria, and is often given during Ramadhan.
The Refugee Zakat Fund was launched by UNHCR in 2019 as a trusted, compliant and effective distributor harnessing the power of zakat to transform the lives of the most vulnerable refugee and IDPs. The report revealed that in 2019, the Refugee Zakat Fund received over US$43 million, including the largest-ever single contribution made by the Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani Humanitarian Fund of over US$35 million.
Other donations to the UNHCR Refugee Zakat Fund were from individuals, institutional partners and philanthropists. These donations have helped provide lifesaving assistance to 191,497 vulnerable families (1,025,014 individuals).
On March 25, UNHCR appealed for US$255 million for its urgent push to curb the risk and lessen the impact of COVID-19 outbreaks on vulnerable communities. Funds are critical to urgently support preparedness and response in situations of forced displacement over the next nine months.
"Imagine trying to cope with this (the coronavirus pandemic) crisis with no access to soap and water to wash your hands. No hope of isolating yourself because of overcrowded conditions. No shelter to stay safely inside. Imagine having to do this after already having been forced by war to flee your home and your family. This is the tragic reality today for far too many refugees and displaced families around the world," said Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in a video statement.
Explore:
Watch the video where Grandi delivers wishes for Ramadhan
- In 2019, the Refugee Zakat Fund received US$43,165,000, allowing UNHCR to provide lifesaving support to over 1 million refugees and internally-displaced persons
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has launched the findings of its 2020 Islamic Philanthropy Report, highlighting the impact of the Refugee Zakat Fund on vulnerable refugees and internally-displaced persons (IDPs) across the globe. Zakat (زكاة) is an obligatory form of alms-giving for Muslims who meet the criteria, and is often given during Ramadhan.
 |
| Source: UNHCR. Eleven-year-old Reem is an internally displaced Yemeni girl with a
serious medical condition. She lives in Sana’a, Yemen and needs regular
medication. Through its partners, UNHCR helped her mother with cash assistance which she used to buy medicine, pay off overdue rent and buy
food for her four children. “I cried when I got the money because I was able to cover Reem’s medicine for one month,” her mother told UNHCR. “Before I got the cash I didn’t have any food in the house to feed my kids - not even a grain of rice.” In 2019, the UN estimated that 80% of Yemen’s 24 million population required humanitarian assistance or protection due to the ongoing conflict. Some 3.65 million civilians have been displaced since the war began in March 2015. Conflict has caused extensive damage to public infrastructure and humanitarian needs are the most acute in governorates most affected by conflict, including Taizz, Al Hudaydah, Hajjah and Al Dhale’e, where fighting and civilian impact is recorded daily. UNHCR provides humanitarian support for the internally displaced and around 275,000 refugees and asylum-seekers who have remained in Yemen despite the fighting. It provided cash assistance to more than 167,000 families in 2019. |
The Refugee Zakat Fund was launched by UNHCR in 2019 as a trusted, compliant and effective distributor harnessing the power of zakat to transform the lives of the most vulnerable refugee and IDPs. The report revealed that in 2019, the Refugee Zakat Fund received over US$43 million, including the largest-ever single contribution made by the Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani Humanitarian Fund of over US$35 million.
Other donations to the UNHCR Refugee Zakat Fund were from individuals, institutional partners and philanthropists. These donations have helped provide lifesaving assistance to 191,497 vulnerable families (1,025,014 individuals).
On March 25, UNHCR appealed for US$255 million for its urgent push to curb the risk and lessen the impact of COVID-19 outbreaks on vulnerable communities. Funds are critical to urgently support preparedness and response in situations of forced displacement over the next nine months.
"Imagine trying to cope with this (the coronavirus pandemic) crisis with no access to soap and water to wash your hands. No hope of isolating yourself because of overcrowded conditions. No shelter to stay safely inside. Imagine having to do this after already having been forced by war to flee your home and your family. This is the tragic reality today for far too many refugees and displaced families around the world," said Filippo Grandi, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in a video statement.
Explore:
Watch the video where Grandi delivers wishes for Ramadhan
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