Where to sponsor
Orphan sponsor guide, country by country
The situation for children in eight countries where sponsorship is common, from UNICEF’s own figures, and what to ask in each.
What an orphan sponsor does
An orphan sponsor gives a fixed amount each month, through an organisation, towards one child’s food, school and care.
Where you sponsor changes what the money meets first, and what you should ask. For the how-to, see Sponsor an Orphan.
See how to help orphans in Gaza, with every pound shown.
I and the one who looks after an orphan will be in Paradise like this, he said, holding up his index and middle fingers.
Children in need, by UNICEF’s count
- 17.3M children in Sudan needing life-saving support UNICEF, HAC 2026, December 2025
- 11.6M children in Afghanistan expected to need help in 2026 UNICEF, HAC 2026, December 2025
- 7.2M children in Syria requiring humanitarian assistance UNICEF, HAC 2026, August 2026
- 3M children in Somalia projected to need assistance UNICEF, HAC 2026, December 2025
Choose a country to sponsor an orphan in
Pakistan
The figures, and what to ask.
Bangladesh
The figures, and what to ask.
Syria
The figures, and what to ask.
Yemen
The figures, and what to ask.
Somalia
The figures, and what to ask.
Afghanistan
The figures, and what to ask.
Gaza
The figures, and what to ask.
Sudan
The figures, and what to ask.
Questions an orphan sponsor asks
Is it better to sponsor in one country than another?
Need is great in all of them. Choose an organisation you can check, with its own staff or a named partner there.
Can an orphan sponsor use zakat?
For a child who is poor or needy, yes: they are among the groups who receive zakat (Quran 9:60). Ask for a zakat-only fund.
Where do the figures come from?
From UNICEF’s own appeals and country pages, each named with its date on the country’s page.
How else can I help children in these countries?
Keep them in your duas: the duas for children on Muslims Around the World are a place to start.