Qatar Charity Launches Emergency Relief Campaign

QC’s Winter Relief Reach 1500

Qatar Charity (QC) has distributed winter relief items and food aid to more than 1500 needy persons in Kosovo, at a total cost of more than 500 thousand riyals.

The distribution of aid was carried out within the framework of the QC’s “Affected By Winter” campaign, in cooperation with four municipalities of the country, where the temperature dropped to 18 degrees below zero.

Mahmoud Abbas, Director of the QC Office in Kosovo said that the charity has distributed winter relief items and food baskets to needy families as an urgent response to lessen the suffering of those affected by the low temperatures in the Balkans.

He added that each family received a quantity of wood for heating and winter clothes, which include 2 jackets, 2 slacks, 2 shirts, shoes, a pullover and a coverlet, in addition to a food basket containing oil, flour, sugar, beans, rice, macaroni, tea and packets of spices.

Bashkim Krasniqi, Deputy Minister of Public Service of Kosovo expressed his deep gratitude and thanks for this assistance and Qatar Charity's outstanding efforts in the fields of development, relief and assistance to support the needy and orphans and to achieve tangible impact in the lives of beneficiary families, hoping Qatar Charity to continue its charitable journey in Kosovo.

For his part, Faruk Mujka, Deputy Mayor of Mitrovica, expressed his great pleasure in the participation with Qatar Charity to distribute this aid to poor families who are in dire need of such assistance. He hoped that other charities would follow the QC’s ways in coordination and cooperation with the responsible authorities in the country.

The beneficiaries of the winter relief expressed their happiness in getting this aid, wishing that such generous efforts would continue to benefit as many needy families as possible.

Expressing his joy and thanks to Qatar Charity, Sadri Faratti said “we are still in your memory, as you brought this aid to us in an area located on the mountain during this bitter cold”. Also, Hamida Babai thanked the QC’s humanitarian efforts with the same emotional way, saying “we cannot deny the support of Qatar for us”.

The projects in Kosovo cover different segments of the community and diverse areas of QC’s work, most notably: sponsoring orphans, people with special needs and poor families, as the number reached than 2,200 sponsored persons.

It is worth noting that more than 4000 people benefited from education and training courses organized through its Qatar Training Center. Over 315 Income-Generating Projects have been implemented, while the number of water and sanitation projects has risen up to 400, in addition to 20 construction projects, which involve houses and mosques.

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QC provides emergency relief t

Qatar Charity (QC) has started the distribution of dry food to more than 6,000 families affected by drought in Baidoa city of Somalia. Thousands of Somali families have been displaced from affected remote areas to nearby villages and towns, due to the drought, which has frequently occurred in the country over the last three years, because of the disruptions in the rainfall.

Director of Qatar Charity Office in Somalia, Abdel Nour Mirsal said the dry food has been distributed to 670 drought-hit families in Baidoa and nearby areas as the first phase of a relief aid project for drought-affected people in Somalia.

Qatar Charity noted that the Emergency Relief Project included the distribution of dry food, safe drinking water through tanks, medical convoys, and the distribution of plastic blankets for families to protect them from the heat of the sun and the cold of the night.

QC said that the relief campaign will be implemented in the displaced people camps in the outskirts of Mogadishu and most affected regions from the far north to the far south.

The Emergency Relief Projects include medical convoys providing primary medical services in Somalia, in order to reduce the spread of diseases and epidemics, in addition to a charity kitchen benefiting daily about 2,000 families in the cities of Mogadishu and Baidoa.

The humanitarian situation in Somalia may worsen this year due to drought, based on climate reports and forecasts, according to international humanitarian reports.

Earlier, the QC Office in Somalia rehabilitated many thousands of the floods and cyclones victims through its early recovery programs, which have contributed to restoring basic services and environment and social life, providing livelihoods and shelter, and reintegrating displaced populations.

Qatar Charity and UNHCR signed an agreement in October 2017 in Geneva to reintegrate Somali returnees, internally displaced people (IDPs) and receiving communities through the construction and rehabilitation of public infrastructure in the water, education, shelter, and sanitation sectors with a budget of over $9 million, which will approximately benefit 100,000 people.

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QC signs MoU with IGAD

Qatar Charity (QC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in the presence of the UN Secretary General's Humanitarian Envoy, Dr. Ahmed Al Meraikhi, to enhance cooperation in the field of Emergency Relief, humanitarian assistance and sustainable development in the Horn of Africa.

The agreement was signed with the aim of entering into a strategic partnership to complete relief and development projects implemented by QC’s field offices in East Africa.

Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Meraikhi, expressed his pleasure at attending the signing of the MoU, which would strengthen the UN approaches to bridge the gap between relief and development, hoping that the MoU would be successful.

Cooperation

QC's Chief Executive Officer, Yousif bin Ahmed Al Kuwari said we welcome cooperation with regional and international institutions in the field of relief, humanitarian assistance and development, including IGAD. He emphasized that QC and IGAD will cooperate on issues of common concern, including providing services and implementing humanitarian projects within the framework of the overall objectives and sectors of mutual interest.

He pointed out that Qatar Charity affirms its keenness to ensure the success of this partnership in order to achieve the agreed goals, which include alleviating the suffering of the affected people, contributing to restoring peace and social harmony in the countries affected by the conflicts in the IGAD region, advocacy of humanitarian and development issues and capacity-building, and focus on sustainable development programs in education, culture, health, water, and sanitation production, food security, alternative livelihoods, fisheries, livestock, dry-land farming and others.

IGAD’s Executive Secretary Mahboub Maalem said I am delighted to have signed this MoU with an institution known for its great capabilities to carry out the humanitarian and development work. He pointed out that the both parties would consult on the selection of partners in countries where there is no field office for any of them, and that IGAD undertakes to use existing structures in member states with a view to completing any project agreed upon by both parties.

Based on the MoU, the IGAD will focus on a number of interventions, the most important of which are the production and food security sectors, including alternative livelihoods, fisheries, livestock, dryland agriculture and food and climate early warning, as well as trade, investment, financial integration, infrastructure, support services and cooperation among member states in health, migration and other sectors, Maalem added.

Exchange of experiences

In accordance with the MoU, IGAD’s expertise might be sought by Qatar Charity, if needed. Both parties also agreed to provide funding from their own sources or from their strategic partners and donors for the implementation of projects as well as they agreed to consult immediately in case of emergencies with the aim of coordination of a common response. Emergency cooperation includes the use of the partners’ network for Emergency Relief and Assistance.

IGAD

IGAD, based in Djibouti, is a regional integration institution comprising Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, Sudan, Southern Sudan and Uganda, and promotes cooperation among member states through the implementation of common policies and programs aimed at achieving development and progress.

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A second relief campaign from

Thousands of displaced families received assistance that included food, water and clothing.

With the generous support of its donors, Qatar charity is soon to start the second phase of the Emergency Relief Campaign for the earthquake victims in Lombok, Indonesia. The campaign targets 1000 displaced families and will include food and clothing.

Phase Two:

The head of the Qatar Charity Office in Indonesia, Mr Karam Zainham, said that the second phase, which is expected to start in a few days, is worth 200,000 riyals. It will include the delivery of clothing to 500 families and the distribution of food aid to another 500 affected families. The total number of beneficiaries will be 1000 families, who were forced to move into temporary camps after their houses being destroyed by the earthquake.

Phase One:

Qatar Charity carried out the first phase of the relief campaign in Lombok, Indonesia mid-August. The campaign included the provision of staple food and meat to 1,8000 affected families, benefiting 10,000 people and covering their needs for one week. After the earthquake, drinking water from wells becomes unsafe, therefore Qatar Charity has provided machines to treat 2000 litres per day for safe drinking water. QC has also ensured to reach out to those affected in remote areas and provide humanitarian assistance.

Psychological aid:

During phase 1, QC’s relief team included 20 volunteers, who were keen and determined to provide psychological support to the displaced families and arrange visits to those who were physically injured. The team also organized entertaining programs for the affected children, which included recreational games and folk songs.

“The assistance we received from Qatar Charity’s donors helped us go through these hard times. We cannot thank them enough” Said Mrs Darissa, a woman from the affected villages. Mrs Darissa stated that what is important now for the displaced families is to find a decent shelter as life in camps can be dauntingly challenging.

Remote Camps:

“We thank the good people of Qatar for their relentless support and kind generosity for standing with us during these difficult times” Sid Mr Janbi Ismail, whose house was destroyed due to the tremors of the earthquake in Northern Lombok.

Mr Khalid Othman, the head of the Fishermen in one of the villages, expressed his happiness at the arrival of Qatar Charity's assistance, saying” despite the damaged infrastructure and blocked roads, Qatar Charity’s reached our remote village and assisted those affected by the earthquake”.

QC’s previous sustainable projects in Lombok:

Qatar Charity has launched several development projects on the island of Lombok from 2012 to 2016. The projects included drilling 270 water well, handing over 32 residential apartments to Low Income Families and improving the sanitary system in the area.

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QC honors winners and particip

Qatar Charity (QC), in cooperation with the "Do Good" initiative, concluded the second edition of the "Give Them Your Experience" program by honoring the winning team “H.E.N.K.S”, other participating teams, judging committee and program partners, in recognition of their role in its success.

The honoring ceremony was attended by Ali Al Gareeb, director of the Local Development Department, Ahmed Saleh Al Ali, director of the Media and Communication Department, both at Qatar Charity, Ali Al-Sada, deputy executive director of the Media Center for Youth, a number of officials from the charity and initiative, media figures and social media influencers.

The financial rewards were given to the winning team and other teams participating in the program at the end of the ceremony.

The list of those honored at the closing ceremony included the participating teams in the program, which are the Heroes of the Earth, Al-Rayyan, H.E.N.K.S, Ektashef Deerti teams.

Ali Al Gareeb, director of the Local Development Department at Qatar Charity, handed over the certificates of thanks and shields of appreciation to the team leaders, who presented the certificates of thanks and appreciation to their team members.

The judging committee has also been honored at the ceremony, which included Dr. Jassim Sultan, director of Wijdan Cultural Center, Ibrahim Al Sada, advisor to the Minister of Culture and Sports, Hamad Al Nuaimi, chairman of the Youth Advisory Committee of the Minister of Culture and Sports. Also, Ali Al Sada, deputy executive director of the Media Center for Youth, a media partner of the program, has received the honor.

Speaking at the beginning of the ceremony, Abdul Rahman Al Awlaki, representative of the "Do Good" initiative talked about its humanitarian projects inside and outside Qatar. These projects included the distribution of Eid clothing to 300 orphans and 500 families in Qatar and the participation in QC’s "Aqraboon" initiative and in a Relief Campaign for Somalia in addition to QC’s other activities.

Addressing at the ceremony, Ali Al Gareeb said, "The aim of the program is to develop leadership abilities and skills of young people and establish a culture of social responsibility, in cooperation with the prominent figures of the community.

Al Gareeb added that for a whole month, the team leaders presented their experiences that contributed to the development of the participants' skills. He also thanked all the partners and supporters of this program.

Then, the team leaders were given the opportunity to talk about the areas in which they presented their experiences. The “Heroes of the Earth” team leader Eng. Mishal Al-Shammari, director of the Qatar Green Building Council, spoke about the recent major environmental changes, the recycling of waste and other materials, the optimum use of electricity and water. He also said awareness campaigns should be launched to reduce the use of plastic and paper, stressing that the preservation of the environment became the responsibility of all.

Al-Rayyan team leader, Sabah Al-Kuwari, director of Al-Rayyan Satellite Channel said “our main objective is to encourage participants to enter the field of media, as it is an essential foundation for advancement and development. He also revealed a media project for students, which is aimed at developing their media capabilities.

The Ektashef Deerti team leader, Jawahar Al Mutawa, founder and CEO of Ektashef Deerti Foundation, said "It was a great experience, as we experienced the time of our ancestors who were diving in the sea in search of pearls." She added that the team learned how to breathe without equipment and participated in the scuba diving experience, noting that the team will carry out awareness campaigns to address water pollution and protect reserves.

The H.E.N.K.S team leader, Khadija Al Buhailekh, an entrepreneur, talked about how to invest human minds without financial aid and her team's desire to establish an economy club in each school. The team members will visit schools to provide awareness and training courses to teach students how to start a business at an early age, aiming to build a new generation in Qatar that will be responsible for the economic development in a dynamic and faster way.

Dr. Jassim Sultan, director of Wijdan Cultural Center, spoke about the importance of all the fields in which the four teams participated as part of the program. He also described its activities as new and distinctive at the level of Qatar.

For his part, Ibrahim Al Sada, Advisor to the Minister of Culture and Sports, highlighted the importance of transferring experiences. He appreciated the efforts of the team leaders participating in the program, hoping it would continue to have a significant impact in all its areas in the future.

The ceremony also included a video presentation that reviewed the most important stages of the implementation of the program. At the end, the judging committee evaluated the experiences according to criteria including reaction, education, behavior, and results, and then declared the “H.E.N.K.S” team as the winner.

On the sidelines of the ceremony, the “H.E.N.K.S” team leader expressed her pleasure over the victory of her team, saying, "This is an honor for me and for my team members." She considered other teams as strong competitors, noting that her team won by the grace of Allah and the efforts of her team members.

It is worth mentioning that Qatar Charity, in cooperation with the “Do Good” initiative, has launched the second edition of the “Give Them Your Experience” program with the participation of four competing teams.

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Qatar Charity Launches Emergency Relief Campaign for Eastern Ghouta