Mas’oud Mreish, “QC got me a UBS that could operate my artificial ventilator. I no longer had to spend all my time at the hospital.”

QC sponsors 7,270 people in Gaza, among which are orphans; poor; disabled; students; and Qur’an teachers.

QC’s office in Gaza implemented a project to secure its sponsored people their medical and humanitarian needs so as to enable them to have a dignified and respectful life and, to lighten their financial burdens.

Necessary Devices

The project included financial aids distributed to 18 cases sponsored by QC in the Gaza Strip. Their needs included medical devices such as eye glasses and audiphones and necessary devices for chronic diseases, payment for treatments, and others.

QC’s staff paid field visits to the patients to ensure that the process was documented and that the patients made the utmost use of the devices, apparatuses, and medications.

Success Story

Thanks to this project, 52 year old Mas’oud Khalil Mreish’s life has changed. He suffers from a chronic respiratory distress. He had to spend most of his time in the hospital because of his serious need for artificial ventilation. He does not have to do that anymore as QC bought him an alternative source of energy to operate his ventilator at home.

The UBS that QC provided Mreish with enabled him to operate his ventilator despite the recurrent power cuts which can last for over 12 hours daily. He can stay with his family now. He no longer needs to spend his time lying on a hospital bed.

Mreish expressed his gratitude for QC for helping him have a stable life with his family. He said that he no longer had to worry about himself and his family. He also stressed that QC made the best it could to help all of its sponsored.

He added, “I used to depend on an oxygen cylinder when the electricity cut off, but it would run out quickly and I couldn’t afford to refill it. That is why my children used to take me to the hospital. I would stay there for days. Hence, I thank QC for helping me and other sick and needy people.”

Alternative Treatments

Eng. Mohammed Abu Haloub, QC’s office Director in Gaza, emphasized that this project reinforced the solidarity and clemency, and provided the needs of the people QC sponsors. He pointed that the project also reduced the financial burden of the sick sponsored category who suffered from difficult economic conditions.

Mr. Abu Haloub elucidated that some of the beneficiaries faced difficulties finding their medications which were not available due to the siege on Gaza. This required more time to find alternative medications.

The beneficiaries expressed their content about receiving the medications and the medical services. They thanked QC for the efforts it exerts to help the poor families and reconstruct the Gaza Strip after the last Israeli aggression.

Fighting Epidemics

The number of QC’s sponsored in Gaza reached 7,270, among which are 5,901 orphans; 803 poor families; 492 disabled; a number of students; preachers; and Qur’an teachers.

In addition, QC has declared since the first few days of the aggression on Gaza to allocate 20,000,000 QR for the reconstruction of the destroyed houses and for other relief needs like food and medications..

QC recently expanded Al Shifa project’s Medical Center, Al-Daraj. The aim was to limit the spread of infectious diseases and epidemics, to provide basic medical services to the needy categories, and to raise health awareness.

At a cost of 500,000 QR, the project was funded by QC in the framework of its objectives to help the Palestinian brothers and ease their sufferance caused by the occupation.

The project included the construction of a second floor of 350 m² and included providing all the construction requirements to serve the health sector in Gaza Strip in general and widen the benefiting category.

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• His Excellency Abdul-Raqib Saif Fath, "QC has contributed to the alleviation of the sufferings of the Yemeni people."

QC hosted a preparatory workshop organized by QC and 12 other humanitarian organizations. It was attended by His Excellency Mr. Abdul-Raqib Saif Fath, Minister of Local Administration and the Chairman of the Higher Committee for Relief in Yemen.

The initiative committee included the Higher Committee for Relief, Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Arab League, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (Saudi Arabia), The International Committee of the Red Cross (Switzerland), Qatar Charity Society, International Humanitarian City (Emirates), International Medical Corps (United States of America), International Islamic Charitable Organization (Kuwait), Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH Turkey), Start Network (Britain), and International Council of Voluntary Agencies (ICVA in Switzerland).

The workshop was held for the preparation of the Conference of Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen: Challenges and Prospects of the Humanitarian Response. The initiators met for consultation, coordination and cooperation so as to face the deteriorating situation of the Yemenis and their increasing sufferings.

Humanitarian Contributions

During the workshop, Mr. Fath spoke about the great humanitarian efforts QC exerted to alleviate the sufferings of the affected Yemenis who have been suffering from the recent escalation of the crisis in their country.

In addition, he displayed to the attendants the humanitarian circumstances in Yemen and clarified the procedures that are followed in dealing with the situation. He explained, "Our work is divided into several stages. The first stage includes an urgent relief campaign for all of the territories. We are done working on this stage and we started with the second stage which covers the territories where hostilities have stopped. We identify the needs and in cooperation with our partners, we plan our response."

Mr. Abdul-Raqib commended QC's work. "QC is considered to be one of the most active humanitarian organizations in Yemen. With the continuous increase in the numbers of the injured in Yemen, QC's support to the Health sector is spectacular. The Health Sector requires bigger operating theatres and more ambulances," added he.

The conference seeks to unite the visions of the active partners in assisting the Yemenis. It aspires to set the floor for an exchange of information, reinforcement of applied procedures related to identifying the Yemenis' needs according to their type and geographical distribution. It is also to help develop the work plans and joint initiatives.

Mr. Mohammed bin Ali Al Ghamdi, QC's CEO of International Development, said that QC has proven its entire and continuous commitment to offering humanitarian and relief aids to the Yemenis. "QC has not spared any effort to alleviate the sufferings of the Yemenis and provide all the necessary means and supplies for a better life."

He also emphasized on QC's role in hosting and organizing the conference about the Yemeni crisis and how such efforts reflect QC's continuous work for the benefit of the Yemenis regionally and internationally. "QC always makes sure to coordinate, cooperate and exchange information with active humanitarian actors in the Yemeni crisis. It also prioritizes implementing relief projects inside Yemen considering the fact that its people are in deep need for aids. Many people who live there suffer from great shortages in drinking water, food and medications," said he.

QC, as Al Ghamdi said, will exert more efforts to respond to the most urgent calls for relief. It will cooperate with all of the active partners and the parties interested in the Yemenis' affairs, whether those related to the displaced, the besieged inside Yemen, or refugees outside Yemen in order to enable them to receive all of the means for a dignified life.

"Yemen, We Are With You"

It is worth mentioning that QC had already inaugurated a campaign entitled 'Yemen, We Are With You' when the crisis first started. It aimed at collecting a financial support of 36,500,000 QR in order to provide food and medication to around 1,260,000 Yemenis. QC also hosted the workshop on the humanitarian situation in Yemen which was attended by several humanitarian institutions from the Gulf and the Islamic World. The meeting resulted in creating a mechanism and a plan for urgent humanitarian intervention, and announcing commitments and pledges by the participants in order to hurry in offering urgent aids. 

• This survey is one of its kind. It is a rich source of information for humanitarian actors in Yemen to help them assess the size of damage that happened to the different sectors: health, education, shelter, water and others.
• Because of the current humanitarian crisis in Yemen, the rate of people living under poverty line reached 60%; that is 30% more than before.
• Al Kuwairi, "We hope the survey will help in making the right plans and in effectively and efficiently using resources to face this crisis."
  
   

The Humanitarian Crisis in Yemen: Challenges and Prospects of the Humanitarian Response conference was organized by QC and 13 other regional and international organizations and networks. The conference was held at Marriott Hotel in Doha. QC had conducted a survey to evaluate the damage caused by the Yemeni crisis to the different sectors and to assess the needs of the affected Yemenis. During the conference, the results of the survey were announced.

This survey is considered one of its kind. It is a rich source of information added to other useful references that would help the humanitarian actors in Yemen assess the damage that happened to its different sectors. It would also help review the needs of all sectors, identify the priorities, and reinforce the society's capability to face and recover from the crisis.   

Coordinating Efforts

Youssef bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, QC's CEO, said, "We made sure to conduct this survey because we understand the importance of identifying the amount of damage that has happened to Yemen and its infrastructure. This survey will help us prioritize our work, mobilize resources and coordinate between the humanitarian actors in Yemen. We hope it will help in making the right plans and in effectively and efficiently using resources to face this crisis." He also commended the work of other partners such as OCHA whose work is considered a main reference and humanitarian actors in Yemen, King Salman for Relief and Humanitarian Aid Center in particular.

The Greatest Crisis

The Yemeni crisis is considered one of the greatest crises around the world considering the number of people who were affected by it. 80% of around 26,000,000 Yemenis were affected. As estimated by the UN, the rate of people living under poverty line reached 60% (i.e. 35% more than how it was before the crisis).

Main Goal

The main goal of this survey is to assess the damage that the recent events caused to the following sectors: food security and food, health, water and sanitation, shelter and in-kind supplies, livelihoods and education. It was conducted to identify the needs of the affected people in some of Yemen's governorates. Other sub-goals included: evaluating and assessing the size of damage that happened to the sectors under survey, preparing a clear visualization of the urgent needs to face the bad conditions of the sectors under survey, preparing a group of programs and activities that would revive the economy and would secure livelihoods for affected communities, achieving a comprehensive work that joins between relief and development, and unifying the relief efforts of the active organizations which work in the fields of relief and development. 

Qualitative and Quantitative Parts

For its quantitative part, the survey used a questionnaire, since it is considered one of the best research tools. The researchers carried out some interviews to receive real data and made use of all the documents of previous studies conducted in the same field.

As for its quantitative part, the survey used a focus group discussion (FDG) and observation as tools for receiving data.

Team Members

A field team conducted the survey under the supervision of a technical team based in Doha. The field team comprises a main researcher, 14 supervisors, 133 researchers and 14 managers (i.e. 162 members). In addition, there are 4 members in the technical team in Doha headed by Mohammed bin Ali Al Ghamdi, Executive Director of International Development.

Results in Figures

The following is a list of the most important results of the survey:

• The total number of affected projects in the fields of water and sanitation is 735; i.e. around 17% of the total number of projects in the targeted areas.
• 656,747 families were affected because of the damage that happened to the fields of water and sanitation.
• The educational sector is affected in around 78% of the affected areas.
• 2,987 schools were included in the survey; 949 of which were affected (i.e. around 32% of the total number of schools).
• 488,638 students were deprived from continuing their education because of the damage in the educational institution.
• 227 medical and health facilities were damaged; whether destroyed or lost.
• Around two thirds of the communities under survey were confirmed to have been affected in the health sector.
•  Around 631,421 families were affected because of the damage in the health sector.
• All of Yemen was affected in the field of food because of the recent events there. Around 99% of the areas were affected.
• 861,458 families could not have sufficient food.
• 2,500,000 people became displaced (i.e. 8 times more than the number when the crisis first started).
• Taiz, Umran, Hajjah, Sana'a and Abyan are of the most affected areas in Yemen. The number of displaced people from all of these governorates reached more than 1,500,000 persons.

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