UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and Sheikh Eid Charity Foundation signed two new agreements worth $2mn in total in the form of urgent cash assistance in support of the most vulnerable internally displaced families in Yemen and Iraq.

The agreements aim to support UNHCR’s efforts in alleviating the hardships facing the displaced families due to the harsh living conditions, limited income and the ongoing crises in Yemen and Iraq over the past years, a statement explained yesterday.

As Covid-19 continues to spread, the health of refugees and internally displaced persons has been severely affected, as well as their ability to secure their basic needs such as rent, food, medicine and other necessities. 

These agreements aim to provide an immediate response to help families during these difficult times by providing multi-purpose cash assistance to 3,571 displaced families in Yemen, in addition to 1,250 displaced families in Iraq, in particular families of widowed women and orphan children.

“We are grateful to Eid Charity Foundation for entrusting UNHCR to distribute zakat contributions to the most vulnerable displaced families, as well as supporting our ability to respond as the humanitarian needs are increasing.” said Khaled Khalifa, UNHCR representative to the GCC countries and senior adviser to the High Commissioner for Refugees for Islamic Philanthropy. 

“Together, we will provide assistance to the most vulnerable displaced families in Yemen and Iraq, who need urgent humanitarian assistance, especially in light of the economic and social challenges caused the humanitarian crises,” he added.

“Our foundation has profound interest in building partnerships in the humanitarian field, and we believe that humanitarian work requires joining forces to maximise the impact and alleviating the suffering in the world. 

Our co-operation with UNHCR allows us to do so by improving living conditions of the most vulnerable displaced persons. Our partnership is built on pride and the hope to reach every person in need,” said the general director of the Eid Charitable Foundation.