UN Chief Calls for Peace, Solidarity During Ramadan

By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman

The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, has issued a call for peace, mutual respect, and solidarity as Muslims around the world observe Ramadan.

In a video message released on Friday, Guterres drew parallels between the spirit of Ramadan, which emphasizes understanding and compassion, and the UN’s mission to foster dialogue, unity, and peace.

He emphasized that Ramadan is a time for people to come together, united by their shared humanity, and highlighted its reputation as a “month of giving,” which inspires charitable donations to help those displaced by conflict.

In related news, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has released a report showing that its Refugee Zakat Fund has supported six million forcibly displaced people in 26 countries since its launch in 2017.

The report highlights the growing role of Islamic philanthropy in supporting refugees worldwide.

Khaled Khalifa, Senior Advisor to the High Commissioner for Refugees and UNHCR Representative to Gulf Cooperation Council Countries, explained that the fund was established to enable giving in places where Muslim organizations faced financial restrictions, such as Afghanistan, Somalia, and the Rohingya crisis.

The report showed that $38 million was raised through the fund in 2022, and the contributions were distributed through cash assistance and direct provision of goods.

Khalifa highlighted the importance of the principle of “Zakat,” which requires Muslims to contribute 2.5% of their unused savings to charity every year.

He also noted that while the resources from the fund were not exclusively dedicated to supporting refugees in Muslim countries, more than 50% of the forcibly displaced under UNHCR’s global purview were in the Muslim world.

The agency listed the Rohingya crisis in Bangladesh, the internal displacement situation in Yemen, and the Syrian refugee crisis in Lebanon as the main recipients of proceeds from the fund since 2017.