Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani in landmark $35m donation for the displaced through UNHCR's Zakat programme

UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, announced today a major individual contribution of more than $35 million from Qatari businessperson Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani for Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh and displaced Yemenis.

The donation, which is the largest UNHCR has received from an individual, covers a one-year cooperation agreement and two grant agreements and is worth US$ 35,215,260.

The agreements were signed in Geneva today by UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi and Sheikh Dr. Khalid Bin Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani, on behalf of H.E. Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani, a generous Qatari lead philanthropist and businessperson.

The funds will be channeled via UNHCR’s Zakat initiative, a programme established in 2016 that is fully compliant with the principles of Islamic social financing and which provides an efficient and trusted way for people to fulfill zakat obligations. One hundred per cent of Zakat initiative contributions go directly to those in need.

The donation will be split into two parts. The first aims at providing around 300,000 internally displaced persons, returnees and members of the host community across Yemen with multi-purpose cash assistance and cash for shelter with an amount of US$ 13,000,260. The second part aims to support an estimated 670,000 Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar in Bangladesh with a focus on health, nutrition and shelter for a total amount of US$ 22,215,000.

“This is an extraordinary contribution that will bring vital help to hundreds of thousands of people whose lives have been torn apart by conflict and displacement,” said High Commissioner Grandi. “UNHCR is deeply grateful to H.E. Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah for his generous support.”

“It is a privilege and an immense opportunity to support most vulnerable people. H.E. Sheikh Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani hopes that through the Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani Humanitarian Fund, he is able to impact as many lives as possible and will continue to support the displaced through UNHCR’s programmes,” said Sheikh Dr. Khalid Bin Thani Bin Abdullah Bin Thani Al-Thani.

There are currently more than 900,000 Rohingya refugees in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, who have been forced to flee violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State and are in need of life-saving assistance. In Yemen, an estimated 24 million people are facing humanitarian crisis and are in a constant struggle to survive as they search for safety, shelter and emergency aid.

For more information, please contact:

Ayat El Dewary
Senior External Relations Officer
Email: [email protected]

Ola Anan
Public Information Associate
Email: [email protected]

About UNHCR:
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, leads international action to protect people forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. We deliver life-saving assistance like shelter, food and water, help safeguard fundamental human rights, and develop solutions that ensure people have a safe place to call home where they can build a better future. We also work to ensure that stateless people are granted a nationality.