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Qatar Charity Performs Life-Saving Heart Procedures for Children in Syria

Qatar Charity (QC) has successfully carried out a humanitarian medical mission at the Al-Waleed Hospital in Homs, Syria, targeting children suffering from congenital heart defects. With generous support from donors, the initiative aimed to alleviate their suffering and improve access to specialized healthcare services. The campaign saw the successful completion of 16 advanced cardiac catheterization procedures. The medical teams repaired the heart defects directly without the need for open-heart surgeries, showcasing a high level of medical competence and integration that immediately improved the children’s health conditions. Qatar Charity confirmed that the initiative was executed in close collaboration with the Syrian Ministry of Health and the Homs Directorate of Health. The mission brought together international medical specialists alongside local healthcare workers to grant vulnerable children the chance at a healthier, more stable life, despite the ongoing challenges facing the country's healthcare sector. Humanitarian Triumph Eng. Osama AlKhalaf, the Campaign Manager, reflected on the impact of the mission: 'What we witnessed during this campaign was not just successful medical interventions, but new leases on life written for children who were facing real, life-threatening risks. Every single procedure was a moment of humanitarian triumph, clearly reflected in the joy of the parents and the return of hope to their hearts'. AlKhalaf highly praised the vital role played by Qatar’s donors and benefactors in making this humanitarian initiative a success. He also expressed his profound gratitude to the medical, administrative, and local partners who worked with utmost sincerity and professionalism throughout the campaign. Highlighting the clinical significance of the mission, Dr. Mahmoud Al-Sofi, Consultant Pediatric and Adult Interventional Cardiologist, emphasized the importance of this campaign amidst limited local medical resources. He noted that utilizing advanced cardiac catheterization techniques successfully treats congenital heart defects in children while sparing them major surgical operations, creating a profound, positive difference in the lives of the patients and their families. The campaign also conveyed powerful human stories. Mr. Yasser Arab, a father of one of the treated children, expressed his deep gratitude for the support received, confirming that the swift medical intervention saved the life of his child, Abdul Hamid, after the family had been living in a constant state of fear and anxiety. Continuous Efforts The campaign is part of Qatar Charity’s continuous efforts to bolster the healthcare sector in Syria and ensure access to specialized medical care for the most vulnerable populations. It aligns with an overarching humanitarian strategy that bridges urgent emergency responses with long-term, sustainable impacts. Similar medical campaigns previously carried out by Qatar Charity across various nations aim to reduce child mortality rates caused by congenital heart defects. Notably, between May 2021 and 2025, these continuous humanitarian initiatives have successfully treated approximately 900 children across 9 countries globally.

21/05/2026

QRCS and Qatar Charity deploy pediatric cardiac surgery convoy in Yemen
In Taiz, Yemen, a specialized medical convoy for pediatric cardiac surgery and catheterization has been launched by Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) and Qatar Charity (QC). Implemented in cooperation with Sidra Medicine and Yemen’s Ministry of Public Health and Population, the project is aimed at backing the health sector and securing free-of-charge medical care for poor children. The launching ceremony was attended by Abdul-Qawi Al-Makhlafi, first deputy governor of Taiz, Dr. Abu Dhar Al-Gendi, director of the Cardiovascular and Kidney Transplant Center in Taiz, and representatives of QRCS and QC. Until May 22, six consultants in cardiac catheterization/surgery, intensive care, and anesthesia will be working hand in hand with the local medical staff at the Cardiovascular and Kidney Transplant Center in Taiz. The Qatari medical delegation comprises a select group of pediatric cardiology consultants and specialists, including Dr. Younes Boudjemline‏, senior consultant cardiologist at Sidra Medicine (head of delegation), Dr. Mustafa Al-Muhaya, consultant cardiologist, Dr. Mohamed Al-Ashwal, consultant intensivist, Dr. Mohamed Al-Humairi, consultant anesthetist, Dr. Nabil Al-Bahlouli, consultant cardiac surgeon, and Dr. Sami Al-Ahdal, consultant cardiac surgeon. As per the plan, 85 cardiac catheterization procedures and 10 open-heart surgeries will be performed, as part of a medical and humanitarian programme to save lives and ease the financial burden on poor families in the governorate. In the same vein, QRCS and QC had supported the host center with a specialized cardiac catheterization machine, at a cost of $1 million, which helped enhance the center’s medical services. Thanks to that support, more than 500 diagnostic catheterizations and 100 therapeutic catheterizations were performed for free with all the costs of medical care and supplies covered. Qatar would continue to work hard to bolster the country’s health system and alleviate the suffering of patients in need.
20/05/2026 More details  
Qatar Charity Boosts Economic Empowerment of Mauritanian Women
A sewing workshop equipped and launched by Qatar Charity (QC) a year ago in the Mauritanian capital, Nouakchott, has transformed the lives of dozens of low-income women. Funded by Qatar’s donors, the project aligns with national empowerment, employment, and social protection strategies to integrate women into the productive labor market. Established in partnership with the Ministry of Vocational Training, Handicraft and Trades, the workshop supports 40 female graduates of vocational training schools. For these women, the project provided a sustainable income source after years of unemployment, serving as a genuine platform for economic independence and household welfare. Measurable Impact Over its first year, the workshop produced 20,000 school uniforms for Taazur, which supports vulnerable populations. This month, a new agreement was signed to produce an additional 20,000 uniforms to identical specifications. Beyond production, the facility offers continuous training to upgrade the artisans' technical skills and product quality. Encouraging Experience Fatimetou Mokhtar Salem, Director of Trades Promotion, Craft Micro and Small Enterprises, and Social and Solidarity Economy at the Ministry of Vocational Training, Handicrafts and Trades, hailed the partnership as a successful model of government-humanitarian integration. She described it as an encouraging experience that merits expansion by increasing beneficiaries and enhancing technical capacities to accelerate production. The workshop has fostered remarkable stories of personal development. Marita Suleiman, a graduate who previously faced unemployment despite her advanced skills, called the project a turning point. 'It allowed me to work in a field I love and earn a dignified income to support my family,' she said, expressing gratitude to Qatar Charity for restoring the workers' confidence. Real Opportunity Similarly, Selma Mohamed, who commutes from the outskirts of Nouakchott, thanked the benefactors of Qatar. Reflecting on her long search for employment, she noted that Qatar Charity provided a real opportunity, allowing her and her colleagues to embark on a shared professional journey. To ensure sustainability and scale up operations, the workers highlighted several requirements. Speaking on behalf of their peers, Marita and Selma requested additional sewing machines, an industrial electric cutter to accelerate fabric processing, specialized machinery for embroidery, and buttons to optimize the final product's quality.
20/05/2026 More details  
Qatar Charity Inaugurates Central Medicine Warehouse in Somalia
A central medicine warehouse in Somalia’s Banadir region has been inaugurated by H.E. Dr. Hassan Mohamed Hussein, Governor of Banadir, and Mayor of Mogadishu, alongside H.E. Dr. Abdullah bin Salem Al Nuaimi, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Somalia. The facility, implemented by Qatar Charity (QC) with the support of donors in Qatar, marks a strategic step toward strengthening pharmaceutical supply systems and improving healthcare services across the region. The project aims to address the absence of a central medicine storage facility under the Directorate of Health and Human Services in the Banadir Region. The warehouse will serve more than 17 health centers across 20 districts, contributing to improved availability, stability, and efficient distribution of medicines. Qualitative Boost In his remarks, H.E. Ambassador Dr. Abdullah bin Salem Al Nuaimi emphasized that the project represents a significant qualitative boost to Somalia’s health sector, reflecting the strong and enduring fraternal ties between the two countries. He noted that the State of Qatar—under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar—remains committed to supporting Somalia’s development efforts. He also commended the contributions of Qatar’s donors and the efforts of Qatar Charity, while expressing appreciation to the Banadir authorities for allocating the land for the project. For his part, H.E. Dr. Hassan Mohamed Hussein described the inauguration as a key milestone in modernizing the health sector in Banadir. He stressed that the warehouse enhances the capacity of health institutions to ensure a consistent supply of medicines. He added that the facility provides a modern and secure environment for drug storage and incorporates digital management systems, expressing his gratitude to the State of Qatar, Qatar Charity, and the generous donors for their continued support of vital projects serving the Somali people. Main Backbone In turn, Mr. Abdulfatah Adam, Country Director of Qatar Charity’s Somalia Branch, outlined the project’s technical specifications, noting that the central warehouse has been constructed over a total area of 450 square meters, including 360 square meters dedicated to storage, in addition to administrative offices and service facilities. He added that the warehouse has been equipped with advanced ventilation and cooling systems to ensure the safe preservation of medicines, along with modern lighting, security systems, and an internal layout designed for efficient storage and quick access. These features, he said, are expected to enhance operational efficiency and ensure the sustainability of medical services. Meanwhile, Dr. Abdirahman Ahmed Mahmoud, Director of the Directorate of Health and Human Services in the Banadir Region, highlighted the project’s field-level importance, describing the warehouse as the “main backbone of medical supply” across the region’s districts. He noted that it will help reduce the burden of storage and management while improving the distribution of medicines and medical supplies to health centers. It is worth noting that Qatar Charity implemented 24 healthcare projects in Somalia over the past year, benefiting more than 143,000 people—an indication of the scale of its interventions and its continued commitment to supporting the most vulnerable communities.
19/05/2026 More details  

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