Jamal Al-Nouri, a Patron of UNHCR

UNHCR announced the appointment of Jamal Al-Nouri, Chairman of the Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri Charity Society, as Patron. This recognition honors his significant contributions to supporting refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) through his organization.

Key Points:

• Al-Nouri’s support:

  • Secured substantial financial aid through the Kuwait Society for Relief.
  • Mobilized resources for cash assistance in Yemen and Iraq, benefiting thousands of families.
  • Led fundraising campaigns in Kuwait, raising nearly $1.6 million for Syrian refugees and Lebanese refugees.

• UNHCR’s appreciation:

  • Recognizes Al-Nouri’s commitment to addressing the needs of displaced people, particularly in the MENA region.
  • Highlights the impact of their partnership in providing vital assistance across multiple countries.

• Al-Nouri’s commitment:

  • Expresses gratitude for the recognition and reaffirms his dedication to supporting refugees and IDPs.
  • Emphasizes the focus on providing sustainable solutions alongside UNHCR.

Context:

• This announcement came during the Global Refugee Forum, a major international gathering focused on supporting refugees.
• Al-Nouri’s appointment reflects UNHCR’s appreciation for individuals and organizations contributing to their mission.

The Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri Charity Society’s chairman, Jamal Al-Nouri, has been named a patron of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in recognition of his dedication to aiding humanitarian causes. This declaration was made at the UNHCR Headquarters in Geneva during the Global Refugee Forum, which was attended by Fillipo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

A Patron is an honorific title bestowed upon those who volunteer their time to promote awareness of the difficulties faced by the UNHCR and internally displaced persons, as well as the efforts made to overcome these obstacles. In addition, to promote involvement, offer assistance, and aid in the fundraising efforts for UNHCR’s life-saving efforts,. Over the last five years, Jamal Al-Nouri, in his role as Chairman of the Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri Charity Society, has been instrumental in fortifying the Society’s charitable collaboration with UNHCR. The Kuwait Society for Relief received a significant financial commitment as a result of Al-Nouri’s sponsorship. Through his mobilization of resources, US$1 million was provided for monetary support to 4,472 households in Yemen that were refugees or internally displaced people. An additional US$333,000 was set aside for comparable help in Iraq, reaching 763 families.

Furthermore, from 2020 to 2023, Kuwait’s Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri Charity Society ran three fundraising events in a row, raising around US$1.6 million. These donations were intended to help UNHCR’s housing operations for refugees in Lebanon and to give Syrian refugees in Jordan monetary support.

“Jamal Al-Nouri’s declaration as UNHCR Patron is a symbol of appreciation for his dedication to supporting UNHCR’s work in responding to the rising needs of displaced persons globally and notably in the MENA area through Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri Charity Society,” said Nisreen Rubaian, UNHCR’s representative in Kuwait. “We want to further expand our collaboration in the future,” she continued. “Through our relationship, we were able to provide crucial monetary assistance, housing provisions, and livelihood activities to thousands of refugees and internally displaced persons in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Egypt, and other countries across East and West Africa.”

“I am very delighted to earn UNHCR’s designation as their Patron,” Jamal Al-Nouri remarked, expressing his gratitude for the collaboration with the organization. This acknowledgment strengthens my resolve to improve the lives of internally displaced people and refugees everywhere. We want to have a significant impact through the Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri Charity Society by collaborating with UNHCR to offer assistance and relief to those in need, with a strategy that centers on offering long-term solutions to the problems faced by refugees and internally displaced people.

The largest worldwide conference on refugee issues, the Global Refugee Forum is conducted every four years with the aim of assisting in the actualization of the goals outlined in the Global Compact on Refugees. States and other interested parties can use it as a chance to make firm promises and commitments, showcase accomplishments, exchange best practices, and assess upcoming prospects and challenges.