(MENAFN- The Peninsula)
Qatar has played a significant role in the humanitarian field and especially in the humanitarian response to refugees and those displaced all around the world, said Ayat El Dewary, UNHCR Representative, a.i., Doha.
'It has been a strategic actor and a first responder to many emergencies globally, said Ayat El Dewary while speaking about the Qatar's role in providing humanitarian aid, cash assistance to refugees and displaced people, and in support of emergency programmes.
The State of Qatar and the UNHCR have a long-standing strategic partnership where government entities, private organisations and individuals have made generous contributions to the UNHCR's aid and relief programmes with contributions amounting to over $300m over the past decade.
In an interview with The Peninsula, Ayat El Dewary, UNHCR Representative in Doha, Qatar, said Qatar's contributions have supported millions of refugees and internally displaced persons across different operations in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Yemen, Iraq, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan and more.
The total number of beneficiaries from Islamic Philanthropy projects in 2020 increased to 2.1 million persons in 13 countries. Most of the supports are in form of cash assistance, shelter, water and sanitation, protection, health, education, amongst others.
El Dewary pointed out that Qatar has contributed over $96m towards UNHCR's operations globally, where the country is a member of the $20m clubs for three consecutive years and their support continues across different sectors and activities, which UNHCR carries out in support of its persons of concern globally. 'Their contributions include healthcare, shelter, education, and cash assistance.
Speaking about the role of the Qatari private sector, El Dewary said the Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Al Thani Humanitarian Fund, which H E Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani, UNHCR Eminent Advocate, created to support those most in need globally has contributed to UNHCR since 2019 over $97m supporting over 3 million displaced persons across Yemen, Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Sudanese refugees in Chad and Afghan refugees in Pakistan through Zakat and Sadaqah. 'These very generous contributions from His Excellency supported refugees and internally displaced persons with cash assistance, basic needs, shelter, health, education and livelihoods. This support has helped them live a more dignified life.
Sheikh Thani is UNHCR's largest individual donor and no contribution as large as his, has been received before, the UNHCR Representative in Doha Ayat El Dewary added, noting that millions of people count on his support and generosity to survive and 'we are very thankful for his trust in UNHCR.
Furthermore, she pointed out that Qatar Charity has been a significant partner to UNCHR since 2012 with total donations reaching close to $48m for internally displaced persons in Iraq, Yemen, Somalia, and Syria and for refugees in Lebanon, Jordan, and Myanmar and reaching more than 1 million beneficiaries.
As for Eid Charity, its support to UNHCR since 2018 amounts to $4.5m in support of Rohingya and Syrian refugees and internally displaced Iraqis and Yemenis through Zakat contributions.
Also contributions from Eid Charity to UNHCR's Refugee Zakat Fund in 2020 supported more than 33,000 internally displaced extremely vulnerable individuals.
In regards to UNHCR's ongoing Ramadan campaign #EverySecondCounts, UNHCR's third global Ramadan campaign, Ayat El Dewary, said that the campaign aims to raise funds globally, 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 refugees and internally displaced families in different countries of the region.
This Ramadan campaign urges support for the millions of refugees and internally displaced people who have been hit hardest by the COVID-19 pandemic. Donations received as Zakat, Sadaqah, or general giving can ease the burden for forcibly displaced families that are away from home and their loved ones.
Asked has the UNHCR been successful in generating Zakat fund for refugees and IDP, Ayat El Dewary, UNHCR Representative in Qatar said: 'In a bid to strengthen partnerships with Zakat institutions and donors, the Refugee Zakat Fund was launched by UNHCR in 2019, harnessing the power of Zakat and Sadaqah to transform the lives of refugees and IDPs.
She added that the fund is backed by more than 10 fatwas, most recently from the International Islamic Fiqh Academy and Al Azhar's Islamic Research Academy. 'Moreover, the fund is subject to strict governance, ensuring the utmost transparency at every step - from donation to provision of assistance.
UNHCR's Refugee Zakat Fund follows a 100% Zakat distribution policy, ensuring that 100% of Zakat contributions are delivered directly to eligible families most in need. Through the Fund, vulnerable families, including women and children, are supported with cash assistance to cover basic needs such as rent, food, healthcare, and debt repayment.
In some specific cases, she said, Zakat may also be distributed in the form of in-kind assistance, such as core relief items, and hygiene/shelter/education kits she underlined. UNHCR's Refugee Zakat Fund is subject to rigorous governance and oversight, ensuring transparency at every step, leading to the provision of assistance. This governance approach entails a number of pillars:
Zakat Compliance
- Scholars: the Fund is Zakat compliant, backed by fatwas from credible scholars and institutions.
- Infrastructure: follows fatwa recommendations by dedicating 100% of funds to Zakat eligible refugees.
- Compliance review: annual third party field visits to monitor distribution and issue compliance reports.
- Donor centric: the destination of the funds is decided by the Zakat donor/ partner at the onset of partnership.
Assessment and Monitoring
- Vulnerability assessment framework: to identify eligible beneficiaries, updated on yearly basis.
- Innovation: use of technology in distribution, to increase efficiency and minimize fraud and duplication.
- Post distribution monitoring: twice a year, to measure impact and improve implementation.
Financial Governance
-Management & accountability: funds are kept in a dedicated interest-free bank account in Geneva.
-Traceability: all funds are dedicated to Zakat compliant cash assistance programmes in identified countries with high needs.
-Transparency: UNHCR publishes annual Zakat reports, and partners are provided with customized reports.
Ayat El Dewary has made it clear that UNHCR's Refugee Zakat Fund is backed by the support of many important and trusted Islamic scholars and institutions around the world through fatwas, public endorsement, and encouragement of dedicating Zakat contributions to refugee families and IDPs.
According to Ayat El Dewary, the Fund has received fatwas from Canadian Council of Imams, Al Azhar Islamic Research Academy, The International Shariah Research Academy (ISRA) in Malaysia, and other religious institutions in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Yemen and Morocco.
Qatar Airways is a strategic partner for UNHCR and last year the UNHCR signed a two-year partnership agreement with Qatar Airways aimed at providing assistance of air cargo services for up to 400,000kgs to transport humanitarian aid cargo to its global networks under its charity initiative 'WeQare.
This is by way of chargeable weight of relief goods. Thus far Qatar Airways have supported UNHCR with two airlifts to the Iran operation, which has supported the operation with much needed medical supplies.
These contributions came at a very crucial time for UNHCR's persons of concern, she said.
'All our partners who have been supporting our operations since the start of the pandemic have in some way helped in alleviating the plight of our persons of concern who have been facing additional challenges during these difficult times, including the socio-economic impact of COVID-19, said Ayat El Dewary.
'Qatar has continued to support UNHCR's efforts in providing the required humanitarian support since the start of the pandemic and throughout 2020, she said when asked about cooperation with Qatar for mitigation of the impact of the COVID-19.
She added: 'Most notably, as some projects were directed towards our COVID-19 response in specific, Qatar Charity supported Syrian refugees in Lebanon with $1.5m as part of UNHCR's COVID-19 response plan. 'Moreover, Qatar Airways continued to carry much needed medical equipment (mainly PPE's) to our operation in Iran to ensure safety of our colleagues and persons of concern.
Regarding upcoming agreements with any Qatari bodies, El Dewary stressed that the UNHCR and its partners in Qatar are in regular talks to continue the invaluable cooperation and enhance ongoing partnerships in order to improve the lives of those most vulnerable globally. 'The continuous and sustainable support received by Qatar is much needed and is saving lives of many of those displaced, whom would have been left behind if it was not for the generosity of the Government of the State of Qatar, its establishments and people.
MENAFN06052021000063011010ID1102037998