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Somali Prime Minister Hails Qatar Charity-Sponsored Winners

Somali Prime Minister Hamza Abdi Barre has hailed three Qatar Charity-sponsored Somali orphans after they swept the top three places in the international “Rofaqa” category of the Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani Quran Competition. The event, held recently in Qatar, drew hundreds of orphaned contestants from around the world. Barre also praised Qatar Charity’s longstanding support for orphan care and education in Somalia. The Prime Minister made the remarks while receiving the winners at his office in Mogadishu. Competing in the full Quran memorization category, Abdulghani Abdulqadir Sheikh Hussein claimed first place, Abdulrahman Qasim Mohammed took second, and Abdulrahman Ahmed Mahmoud secured third. A Triumph for Somalia Barre commended Qatar Charity for combining orphan care with education and empowerment, helping young people excel academically and in Quranic studies. He said the students’ success underscores the respected status of Quran memorizers in Somali society and highlights the country’s promising talent in Islamic and Quranic studies. Describing the clean sweep as “a source of pride for the Somali people,” he urged the winners to continue memorizing and teaching the Quran and promoting its values in their communities. The Prime Minister announced that the three winners would receive free education under the same support granted to the country’s top performers in the national secondary school certificate examinations. Reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to Quranic education and gifted students, he told them: “in the government are proud of you for winning first, second, and third places in this international competition. Your achievement is an honor for all Somalis, and I will direct the Ministry of Education to provide you with free education in support of your academic journey.” The winners were among 389 contestants from 20 countries who entered the international “Rofaqa” competition for orphans, organized by Qatar Charity in partnership with Qatar’s Ministry of Endowments and Islamic Affairs. A select group advanced to the final round. The “Rofaqa” category is the Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani Quran Competition’s first international category dedicated to orphans sponsored by Qatar Charity. Open to participants aged 12 to 20, it offers a competitive Quran memorization platform within an educational setting that combines Quranic excellence with humanitarian care. Ambassador Praises Investment in Talent Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Sheikh Ali, Somalia’s Ambassador to Qatar, also congratulated the winners, saying their clean sweep reflected the value of investing in people. He said the result showed how sustained care, education, and training can turn talent into achievement. The Ambassador highlighted Qatar Charity’s leading role in caring for and empowering orphans, noting that its programs extend beyond meeting basic needs. They identify talent, build capabilities, and create opportunities for children to shape a better future and excel across a range of fields. He described the “Rofaqa” Initiative as an advanced model of orphan care, with education, capacity-building, and character development at its core. The approach, he said, strengthens children’s confidence, unlocks their potential, and equips them to contribute meaningfully to their communities. Education at the Heart of Development The Ambassador also praised Qatar Charity’s decades of humanitarian and development work in Somalia, particularly its investment in education through school construction, educational projects, and sponsorships for students and orphans. He said these efforts have helped produce thousands of qualified professionals who now serve in government institutions and the private sector, contributing to development and stability. In recent years alone, he added, Qatar Charity has supported 4,000 university students in Somalia, most of whom have since joined the public and private sectors. He said the trio’s success offers tangible evidence of the lasting impact of investment in education and orphan care. It also illustrates Qatar Charity’s approach of moving beneficiaries beyond care toward empowerment and achievement, while underscoring education’s central role in development and in building a better future. About the “Rofaqa” Initiative Qatar Charity’s “Rofaqa” Initiative is the world’s largest umbrella program for sponsoring orphans and other vulnerable groups. It currently provides comprehensive care to more than 226,000 beneficiaries across dozens of countries, including 22,000 orphaned children in different regions of Somalia.

20/09/2026

Qatar Charity Activates Emergency Humanitarian Response for Yemeni Refugees in Djibouti
Qatar Charity has announced the activation of an emergency humanitarian response and the allocation of US$1 million as an initial response to support Yemeni refugees who, in recent days, have been forced to flee their country and seek refuge in the Republic of Djibouti amid renewed fighting in Yemen. Violence has triggered waves of internal displacement and refugee movements to neighboring countries as people search for safety and security. As part of this response, Qatar Charity has activated its Crisis Cell team at its headquarters in Doha, as well as its Information and Crisis Management Center and field office in Djibouti, to monitor humanitarian developments on the ground and deliver urgent, life-saving assistance to newly arrived Yemeni families. The response also aims to strengthen support for host areas and communities facing mounting pressure because of the influx of refugees. This step comes in response to the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation caused by renewed fighting in Yemen. According to the International Organization for Migration, the number of internally displaced people in Yemen has exceeded 85,000, while more than 2,000 Yemeni refugees have arrived on Djibouti’s northern coast near the Obock area in recent days. Many of them are women and children who were forced to undertake perilous journeys across the Bab al-Mandab Strait to reach safety. The urgent humanitarian response package launched by Qatar Charity focuses on meeting the most pressing basic needs of affected families. It includes emergency shelter and essential non-food items, hot meals and ready-to-eat food assistance, safe drinking water, primary healthcare services, support for water, sanitation and hygiene services, and nutritional support for mothers and children. The response also includes shelter supplies, covers and blankets, clothing and footwear for families in need, in addition to supporting temporary shelter solutions to provide a safer and more dignified environment for newly arrived refugees and alleviate the humanitarian hardship they have faced since their arrival. Qatar Charity affirmed that its humanitarian intervention is being implemented in coordination with the relevant authorities and humanitarian partners to ensure that assistance reaches the most vulnerable families as quickly as possible, helping to alleviate their suffering while also supporting host communities that are shouldering additional burdens as the humanitarian crisis worsens. Qatar Charity called on benefactors to support its urgent humanitarian response for Yemeni refugees in Djibouti. Donations to the campaign can be made through a range of convenient channels, including: Qatar Charity’s website: www.qcharity.org Or its mobile application: www.qch.qa/app Donors can also be reached wherever they are, and their contributions to campaign projects can be collected through the “Home Collector” service available via the Qatar Charity app, or by calling the call center at 44290000. Donations may also be made through Qatar Charity branches and its donation collectors at shopping malls.
17/09/2026 More details  
Qatar Charity Conducts Blindness Prevention Campaign in Senegal
As part of its ongoing “Ibsar” initiative to combat eye diseases that cause vision loss, and with the support of donors in Qatar, Qatar Charity (QC), in cooperation with Senegal’s Ministry of Health and Social Action, implemented a medical campaign to address treatable blindness. The initiative benefited thousands of people in the Dakar and Saint-Louis regions and helped restore hope to hundreds of patients through free eye screening, treatment, and surgical services. During the campaign, 2,953 people received eye examinations and medical consultations, while 1,290 prescription eyeglasses and 4,964 units of eye medications and eye drops were distributed. Multidisciplinary Team The screening activities identified 729 cataract cases requiring surgery, and 481 cataract operations were successfully performed during the campaign period. The campaign was implemented by a multidisciplinary team comprising eight ophthalmologists, 11 eye care and cataract surgery specialists, six additional eye-care technicians, and 50 support staff, ensuring comprehensive services throughout the screening, treatment, surgery, and follow-up stages. The initiative was carried out under the partnership between Qatar Charity and the Ministry of Health and Social Action through the National Eye Health Programme, supporting national efforts to reduce preventable blindness and improve access to specialized eye-care services for vulnerable communities. Challenge of Cataracts These interventions are particularly important given the challenges facing eye health services in Senegal. Cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness in the country, while limited access to specialized surgical services, high treatment costs, and inadequate public awareness continue to prevent many patients from receiving timely care. By providing examinations, surgeries, medications, and follow-up services free of charge, the campaign expanded access to specialized eye care, reduced the financial burden on patients and their families, shortened waiting lists for surgery, and supported knowledge exchange among healthcare professionals working in the field of eye health. Abdoulaye Ndiaye, Advisor to the Senegalese Minister of Health, praised the cooperation between Senegal and the State of Qatar in supporting the healthcare sector. He commended Qatar Charity’s efforts to combat blindness and visual impairment through targeted medical programmes and enhanced prevention and treatment services for vulnerable communities. For his part, Mustafa Essatte, Director of Qatar Charity’s Senegal Branch, said the campaign reflects the successful partnership with the Ministry of Health and Social Action and demonstrates Qatar Charity’s commitment to ensuring access to quality healthcare for those most in need. He noted that restoring sight goes beyond improving health outcomes, enabling beneficiaries to pursue education, employment, mobility, and self-reliance while enhancing their social and economic well-being.
16/09/2026 More details  
Qatar Charity Initiative Treats Cleft Lip and Palate in Somalia
With support from donors in Qatar and in cooperation with Somalia’s Ministry of Health and Social Care and Well Care Specialized Hospital, Qatar Charity has launched the “Creating Smiles” initiative to provide free treatment to Somali patients with cleft lip and palate. The initiative offers essential surgical procedures and medical care, helping patients overcome the health and social challenges associated with these conditions. The initiative targets 72 children and adults with congenital cleft lips and palate, who are set to undergo corrective surgery. High Demand At the initiative’s launch, Ms. Nasra Abdulsamad Mohamed, Director of the Oral and Dental Health Department at Somalia’s Federal Ministry of Health and Social Care, thanked Qatar Charity, donors in Qatar and the management of Well Care Specialized Hospital for implementing the programme. She said patients had travelled from across the country to benefit from the initiative. She said: “This initiative addresses a genuine need among many families who could not afford treatment for their children. We thank the donors in Qatar for their support, which has enabled patients to undergo specialized surgical procedures free of charge.” She added that the high demand reflects the scale of the need for such medical services, noting that the initiative enables patients to receive treatment and healthcare without placing a financial burden on their families. For his part, Dr. Abdullah Farah Asir, Director General of Well Care Specialized Hospital, said the hospital was coordinating with Qatar Charity and the Ministry of Health and Social Care to perform the procedures. He explained that the initiative serves children and adults who have lived for years with the effects of these congenital conditions. Some admitted cases require specialized surgery, he added, and the medical teams have mobilized their resources to ensure that beneficiaries receive the necessary care in line with approved medical standards. Thanks to Donors Mr. Abdulfattah Adam Moalim, Director of Qatar Charity’s Somalia Office, also thanked donors in Qatar for funding the humanitarian medical initiative, stressing that their support enables dozens of patients to receive essential treatment and care. He said the treatment pathway involves several stages, beginning with medical examinations and case assessments, followed by the required surgical procedures and post-operative follow-up, in coordination with the initiative’s partners. He noted that medical teams have performed 23 procedures to date, while preparations are under way to complete the remaining operations and reach the target number of beneficiaries during the project’s current phase. Ongoing Efforts The “Creating Smiles” initiative is part of Qatar Charity’s broader efforts to support Somalia’s health sector. Over the past year, the organization implemented 24 health projects benefiting more than 143,000 people, at a total cost of approximately QAR 10 million. The projects included constructing and equipping health facilities, performing general and specialized surgeries, treating critical cases, supporting blindness-prevention programmes, and providing medical equipment and supplies. Together, these interventions helped strengthen healthcare services across several parts of Somalia.
15/09/2026 More details  

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