united nations relief and works agency
for palestine refugees in the near east
Islamic Philanthropy Annual IMPACT Report 2024
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united nations relief and works agency
for palestine refugees in the near east
Charity is a core tenet of the Muslim faith. For Muslims, the act of giving to the less privileged is highly encouraged and serves both to help others and bless one’s own wealth. In 2024, UNRWA received US$ 41 million from over 69,000 people and organisations who donated according to the Islamic giving rules of Zakat and Sadaqah, using the Agency’s Islamic Philanthropy programme. This was a first for UNRWA, and I am truly humbled by the generosity of our donors.
As UNRWA marked its 75th year, it also faced some of the most colossal challenges of its history. The devastating war in Gaza, the acute surge in violence in the occupied West Bank, and the war in Lebanon, are events that have profoundly shaken the Palestine Refugees that we serve in the region.
In Gaza, relentless conflict ravaged lives and uprooted entire communities, with over 48,000 people reportedly killed and 1.9 million, over 90 percent of the population, forcibly displaced. More than 650,000 children are not able to go to school for a second year across the Gaza Strip. Half of them went to UNRWA schools before the war. Healthcare services were severely disrupted, and entire families often relied on UNRWA’s health consultations even for very serious medical conditions.
In Lebanon, renewed hostilities in late 2024 claimed thousands of lives, displaced nearly a million people—including thousands of Palestine Refugees—and devastated communities already struggling to survive. In Syria, Palestine Refugees remained among the most vulnerable communities, navigating an unstable environment where displacement and extreme poverty persisted. In 2024, Palestine Refugees in Jordan continued to receive basic services from UNRWA, despite an increasingly unstable regional environment.
UNRWA maintained its lifesaving and other critical services throughout the year, providing shelter, food and health services in the Gaza Strip, and education, healthcare and basic services in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria.
To help the most vulnerable, your Zakat giving alone grew from less than
US$ 300,000 in 2018 to over US$ 26 million in 2024. UNRWA’s Zakat programme is endorsed by Al-Azhar, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation’s International Islamic Fiqh Academy, and Al-Aqsa Mosque, and is firmly rooted in Sharia principles, ensuring 100 per cent distribution of Zakat with zero administrative cost. Islamic Philanthropy towards UNRWA was the highest within the United Nations in 2024.
Your contributions are more than just financial support. They are declarations of shared humanity and solidarity with Palestine Refugees. “To save one life is like saving the lives of all mankind” says the Holy Quran.
Your generosity is helping save mankind.
With deepest gratitude,
Tamara Alrifai
Director, Department of External Relations and Communications, UNRWA
2024 was a year of unprecedented hardship for Palestine Refugees, with conflict, displacement, and uncertainty shaping their daily reality. In the face of these challenges, Islamic philanthropy has been a vital source of relief, enabling UNRWA to provide lifesaving assistance to the most vulnerable. Through Zakat funds, UNRWA delivers critical cash and food assistance, while Sadaqah supports a wider range of humanitarian programmes. As crises deepen across Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and beyond, the generosity of Zakat and Sadaqah donors continues to demonstrate the power of solidarity, ensuring that urgent humanitarian needs are met with compassion and impact.
464,311
large food parcels distributed
$50
amount (in US$) of cash assistance distributed per person to 21,169 people; 4,228 meals were also distributed
$121
amount (in US$) of cash assistance distributed per person to 211 people
$47
amount (in US$) of cash assistance distributed per person to 40,541 people
Numbers of People Who Benefited From Zakat
100%
Distribution Policy for Zakat Contributions
530,460
Total Number of People Who Benefited from Zakat
Gaza—Food assistance
"Some food is not available at the market, and everything is expensive. I needed the milk for my little baby," says Amer, a father of three who has lived through unimaginable hardships. With the horrific war in Gaza, life has become a constant battle for survival, with 90% of the population displaced and entirely dependent on humanitarian aid. Displaced nine times from his home in Al Qarara Town, Amer shelters with his family in Mawasi camp.
When Amer received an UNRWA food parcel, it brought more than just nourishment—it brought hope. Containing essentials like milk, hummus, rice, and cooking oil, and many other essential food items, this parcel arrived when Amer needed it most. "I evacuated from home without having anything. Thank God for this food parcel; it arrived right when I needed it most," he says, his voice filled with gratitude.
UNRWA’s Zakat funds plays a vital role in supporting Palestine Refugees during Ramadan and beyond. Thanks to the generous Zakat and Sadaqah donations, families like Amer’s are able to celebrate moments of relief, even in the harshest conditions. "It’s beautiful to see my children happy with the food we received. God bless them," Amer adds, smiling through his struggles.
During the war in Gaza, where unprecedented needs demand a response on a scale, UNRWA provided food to 1.9 million people and water to over 600,000. Your Zakat contributions during 2024 ensured that families like Amer’s could hold on to hope and dignity amid their darkest days.
$26M+
2024 Zakat Contributions, US$
Zakat Contributions Received By Operation
69K+
Generous Supporters of UNRWA's Islamic Philanthropy Programme
GAZA—CASH ASSISTANCE
"I wash their clothes at night, and they sleep in their undergarments under blankets," Kawkab says, her voice heavy with exhaustion. A grandmother displaced in Deir al Balah from the north of Gaza, she is the sole caregiver to six orphaned grandchildren. Her daughter passed away, and their father is missing during the war. The family’s struggles are unimaginable—one grandchild suffers from a heart condition, another from asthma. Kawkab clings to her faith, yet the weight of providing for her family alone often feels unbearable.
In 2024, Kawkab and her grandchildren faced another harsh winter with only one set of clothes each. "The children used to walk barefoot, wearing rags," she recalls. "We came with nothing."
But many things changed when Kawkab received cash assistance from UNRWA, supported by Sadaqah funds through UNRWA's partner Hasene International. "Receiving the cash assistance felt like a fortune, filling me with joy. I bought clothes, sandals, and some fruits for the children," she says. For the first time in months, her grandchildren smiled. "They were so happy. May God bless you all."
Because of the war, life in Gaza has become unbearable for families like Kawkab’s. The relentless violence has left over 46,000 Palestinians dead and 110,000 injured, with children and women accounting for 70% of the casualties. Thousands of children are now orphaned or separated from their families, left vulnerable to unimaginable risks. In this dire context, the generosity of donors is a lifeline.
Thanks to the support of its partner Hasene International, UNRWA is helping care for 5,747 unaccompanied and separated children in Gaza, ensuring they receive protection, clothing and a semblance of stability. For Kawkab, the support has been a beacon of hope. "You’ve brought joy to my children," she says with heartfelt gratitude, "and I pray God gives me the strength to continue this journey."
$41M+
2024 Total Zakat and Sadaqah Contributions, US$
Zakat Contributions Over the Years: A Growing Impact
$14M+
2024 Sadaqah Contributions, US$
Lebanon—healthcare
“Life, my dear, is like water—if it stops flowing, it dies.”
In the bustling neighborhood of Jinah, Beirut, 64-year-old Amira Mataria, a Palestine Refugee, clings to this belief as she fights to keep her life moving. Living with her only daughter, Amira has faced years of hardship since the passing of her husband. Suffering from hypertension and a narrowing artery in her heart, she relies on the medication she receives from UNRWA’s health clinic in Mar Elias camp.
Amira’s days are filled with struggle. “I have a water tank from which I sell water to my neighbors, but it’s never enough,” she explains. “I work three days just to afford food for me and my daughter. Some days, I even walk to the clinic because I can’t pay for the bus.”
Poverty weighs heavily on nearly 80% of Palestine Refugees in Lebanon, a result of decades of structural discrimination compounded by the ongoing economic crisis. For many like Amira, UNRWA is a lifeline. The health services, made possible through Zakat and Sadaqah contributions, ensure Amira and others receive vital medication and care. “Without UNRWA, I’d be in grave danger. Illness doesn’t wait, but Ramadan reminds us to be patient and grateful,” she says with quiet strength.
During Ramadan 2024, a time of giving and compassion, the Zakat and Sadaqah funds brought hope to families like Amira’s. Her story is one of strength and faith, a reminder of the vital role donors play in sustaining the flow of life-saving support. “Life must keep moving,” Amira says.
Zakat and Sadaqah funds allow UNRWA to respond quickly to crisis. During the fall of 2024, an escalation of violence in Lebanon displaced over 200,000 people, forcing many into UNRWA emergency shelters. These shelters provided essential services like food, medical care, and education for children.
UNRWA’s Islamic Philanthropy Programme is dedicated to supporting the most vulnerable Palestine Refugees in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, and the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, through Zakat and Sadaqah contributions. Zakat funds are strictly allocated to ensure 100 percent of contributions are distributed directly to eligible beneficiaries in the form of cash assistance or food baskets, maintaining full transparency and compliance with Islamic principles.
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UNRWA is proudly collaborating with dedicated partners who are committed to delivering vital assistance, protection, and opportunities to Palestine Refugees in need.
Hasene International is a global charity based in Germany and Türkiye, dedicated to providing critical humanitarian aid to vulnerable communities worldwide. As a trusted UNRWA partner since 2020, Hasene supports Palestine Refugees with lifesaving assistance across Gaza, Jordan, and Lebanon.
Muslim Hands is an international NGO operating in over 20 countries, dedicated to supporting communities affected by disasters, conflicts, and poverty. A UNRWA partner since 2020, Muslim Hands provides essential food, water, healthcare, and emergency aid to displaced Palestinians in Gaza.
Rahmatan Lil Alamin Foundation (RLAF) is a Singapore-based charity with IPC status, committed to fostering compassion through youth empowerment, community projects, and humanitarian relief. RLAF supports vulnerable communities affected by conflicts and natural disasters worldwide.
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