On March 3, 2025, as the world grapples with severe humanitarian crises, Jordan has reaffirmed its steadfast support for the Palestinian people. The Head of the Palestinian Businesswomen's Chamber, Samaah Hamad, emphasized during a recent meeting with officials from Jordan’s charitable organizations and embassy, "Jordan is one of the most important real supporters of the Palestinian people," showcasing the country's commitment through extensive humanitarian efforts.
The meeting, which included the Jordanian Ambassador to Palestine, Issam Al-Badour, was organized by the Government's Emergency Interventions Operations Room for the Southern Palestinian governorates. Hamad expressed her gratitude to Jordan, its king, government, and citizens, acknowledging their relentless efforts over the past 15 months to assist the people of Gaza amid the protracted conflict. She detailed the response actions by her organization, underscoring their role in delivering urgent relief and recovery assistance.
Hamad made it clear how the chamber promotes technological solutions to aid recovery, yet highlighted significant challenges they face, including the closure of crossings which limits aid access, stating, "We must unify Palestinian-Jordanian efforts to strengthen relief work," as per Hussein Al-Shibli, Secretary-General of the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization. Al-Badour also rejected Israeli decisions to restrict access, deeming them illegal and inhumane, with clear directives from the Jordanian monarchy to continue providing support for Palestinians.
The humanitarian need extends beyond the borders of Palestine; globally, 305 million individuals are anticipated to require urgent assistance. Conflicts such as those plaguing Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine have led to millions being displaced. The United Nations reported over 123 million people forcibly displaced worldwide by mid-2024, with rampant violations of international humanitarian law, highlighting the dire situation on the ground.
Food insecurity is also on the rise, with around 280 million people suffering acute hunger, primarily driven by protracted crises and the repercussions of climate change. Areas such as Sudan, Gaza, South Sudan, and Haiti face deteriorated conditions, exacerbated by the most severe droughts seen in recent decades.
To address these pressing needs, humanitarian organizations like UNICEF are actively providing water and sanitation services across 60 countries afflicted by conflict or natural disasters. The UNHCR plays its part as well, advocating for the rights of refugees and internally displaced individuals globally. They noted contributions from Zakat and Sadaqah can significantly alleviate these humanitarian challenges.
Since 2017, the Zakat Fund for Refugees has issued life-saving financial assistance to over 8.9 million individuals across 31 nations. Remarkably, Zakat contributions alone reached $14 million USD and benefited more than 474,000 refugees and displaced persons within just the past year, and Sadaqah contributions saw totals of $7.8 million for over 390,000 individuals affected.
Further spotlighting these efforts, Khaled Khalifa, UNHCR's representative, stated, "We are grateful to all those who have put their trust in the Zakat Fund for Refugees." He highlighted the fund's effectiveness, particularly during the current humanitarian crisis, where immediate direct assistance is more important than ever. The call for contributions, especially during the Islamic month of Ramadan, plays an integral role as needs continue to grow.
The Zakat Fund has provided substantial support for Syrian refugees who have faced unimaginable hardships since the civil war began. Over $78 million from Zakat and Sadaqah has been directed to assist more than 2.4 million beneficiaries across Syria and neighboring countries like Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey.
Given such levels of displacement and destruction, the United Nations remains actively engaged, establishing partnerships with international organizations to improve infrastructure and provide additional support. Medical facilities are among the urgent priorities, with plans to set up field hospitals and prompt relief services.
Yet, amid these efforts, severe barriers to humanitarian access persist. Conflicts often pose significant challenges, with bureaucratic restrictions preventing effective aid delivery, and the safety of humanitarian workers is increasingly at risk. Reports noted 281 aid workers were killed globally just last year, with 226 from UNRWA alone succumbing during one year of conflict across Gaza.
Addressing the need for sustained and significant funding, the United Nations has set a financial target of $47.4 billion for humanitarian response operations for the year 2025. Currently, the response remains severely underfunded with only 21.2 billion collected to date, falling drastically short of the projected needs. Such gaps translate directly to reduced services and heightened risks for millions.
The call to action is clear. The global community, civil society, and individuals can contribute significantly by supporting emergency relief funds and making donations, no matter how small, effectively helping deliver aid to those most affected. The comprehensive approach is imperative to tackle these multiplying crises as the humanitarian situation continues to demand unprecedented attention.
With initiatives scaling up across various sectors, from food assistance to urgent medical care, Jordan, along with key international actors, remains dedicated to fostering resilience and promoting coordination of humanitarian efforts where the need is direst.