QC honors winners and participants of "Give Them Your Experience"

• Shaikh Hamad Bin Fahd Al Thani: “The drought surge in Somalia has left bad consequences on all aspects of life.”
• Jasem Aljesem: “The situation in Somalia is heart breaking and it is a real catastrophe.”
• Ahmed Alali: “I have seen a real and unconceivable catastrophe; Qatar Charity assistance continues.”

 A humanitarian delegation from Qatar Charity (QC) headed by his Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Thani has visited Somalia where it observed the situation there, launched a large Relief Projects, and met with the prime minister of Somalia and other officials.

The delegation included: Mr. Jasem Aljasem, the advisor to the Executive Manager of Qatar Charity, Mr. Mansour Dafaa, an advisor of International Arbitration and a member of the General Assembly of Qatar Charity, Mr. Ahmed Saleh Alali, Qatar Charity’s Media Manager, MR. Nayef Alanzy, and other media contributors including: Abdellah Anzy, Ahmed Abdellah, Sayed Hussam Rowhy, Abdullah Helali, and from Marsal Qatar network Mr. Yaseen Harsi.

After observing the Somalis’ difficult conditions of living, Qatar Charity’s delegation launched a number of important humanitarian projects including opening a kitchen that will serve 7000 people and launching of an artesian well that will provide drinking water for about 4000 in drought-devastated areas.

Goals

The visit aims at surveying the humanitarian conditions of people to continue distributing humanitarian aid, and to mobilize donations for quality and sustained projects.  

Staying alive

His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, head of Qatar Charity’s delegation, pointed out that the recent surge of drought has an effect on all aspects of life in Somalia. It has caused a loss of livestock that farmers relied on for daily needs, and people take refuge at shelters at cities so that they could find minimal safety and stay alive.

He also praised people who donated for Somalis in need and Qatar Charity’s great efforts in this field to overcome the catastrophe through its humanitarian projects. He also expressed his hope that this campaign continues, as the amount of hardship caused by the surge of drought is difficult.

He also expressed his thanks to Mr. Hamaza Bin Hamze the Chargé d'affaires of the Qatari Embassy in Somalia for facilitating to a successful mission that the Qatar Charity’s delegation had.

A catastrophe beyond imagination

Detailing more on the humanitarian condition in Somalia, Mr. Jasem Aljasem, the Advisor to the Executive Manager of Qatar Charity, said that the visit was an opportunity for the delegation to observe the hardship of our brothers and sisters in Somalia, adding: “It is in fact a catastrophe, unbelievable thing. There is a gloomy and heart breaking situation, it is a fact. Nobody could imagine the existence of people living in such situation. Somalians have been suffering for 3 years because of drought and this is what made the living conditions unbearable. Thousands of families had to take refuge at other areas so that they could have some food or a sip of water. Those who couldn’t make it are among the dead.”

In his part, Mr. Sayed Mansour Aldafe’ “The international arbitrary advisor” and the General Assembly member of Qatar Charity said, “We are not talking about developmental or sustainable projects; these project are luxurious compared to the real situation that millions of Somalis are living. We are talking about a piece of bread or a sip of water. We visited the place so that we could carry their massage and need to Qataris. After observation, we ask the good people of Qatar to help their brothers and sisters in Somalia, and to do it fast. Anything could help; excavating wells or provide food and medicine. To be thankful for the blessings in our life, we should donate to the poor and needy especially children, elderly and children. They are at risk of dying every day because of this catastrophic drought. This what we have witnessed by our own eyes and covey to ou honestly.”

A real Catastrophe

In his part, the Media Manager at Qatar Charity, Mr. Ahmed Saleh Alali said that the visit is a humanitarian in nature, as he put it “Being in the field is more informative.” He continued that the visit aims for certain goals such as, monitoring Qatar Charity’s projects, which are the fruit of a large humanitarian campaign that followed the ongoing crisis since the beginning. In addition, it aims to alleviate the suffrage of the displaced and provide food for them through several important projects in this field.”

He also pointed that the situation there is very difficult and the whole Somali nation is groaning in pain by one of the most dangerous drought surges ever; prompting for more support campaigns. Pointing that he is bear witness an unimaginable catastrophe that needs an immediate intervention to save who are still alive.

Wandering eyes

Media contributor Abed Alanzy called for the munificent of the Qatari nation to stand beside their brothers and sisters in Somalia to relieve their crisis. Pointing that the Qatari Nation has a long history of giving and doing good deeds. He continue that he have seen millions of people sharing few tents together, looking with their wandering eyes for hope. He calls and asks for the munificent of this good nation to help their brothers and sisters in Somalia who lost “everything.”

A call for help

Mr. Ahmed Abdullah, a media contributor, asserted that words could not describe the extent of the catastrophe Somalia is facing. The current drought surge has deteriorated the crisis after the insecurity problem has already prevailed in the country, as he put it. From his position he called the Qatari nation to continue their support to the needy so that Qatar stays a refuge for the oppressed and this a time to help Somalis through assistance.

It is noteworthy to mention that Qatar Charity has dedicated a radio show called “Motanafeson” through Quran Station to collect donation to support its humanitarian projects in Somalia. Many competing teams has joined the show and the audience was very cooperative in donating and interacted positively with show presenter Dr. Abdel Rahman Hamy, Sheikh Hamad Bin Fahd Al Thani, Mr. Jasem Aljasem and media contributor Fahed Beshara.

As the crisis continues in the midst of lack of basic needs, more help and efforts are needed. Qatar Charity calls for donors to continue their support to save Somalia.   

Methods of donation

The good people of Qatar can continue their support to brothers and sisters in Somalia who are facing hardship and lack of water, food and medicine, through these contributions: “providing water” valued 100 QR, “Food Basket” valued 300 QR, and “Medical Services” valued 500 QR. You can also donate using these means: send via SMS with a text massage containing soa to the number 92632 to donate 50 QR, to the number 92642 to donate 200 QR, or to the number 92428 to donate 500 QR.

You can also Donate via e-mail that you can find at qcharity.org, via the hotline; 44667711, or through collection points and self-service machines that belong to Qatar Charity at shopping malls. 

Qatar Charity has launched an Emergency Relief Campaign for the eastern Ghouta. Titleed "Al Ghouta under siege", the campaign will distribute 3,000 food baskets on 15000 affected persons as a first phase. It is part of the charity's continued efforts to extend relief to the Syrian people.

This campaign aims to save thousands of children and infants who are at risk of starvation at any moment, said Executive Director for Operations Management at Qatar Charity Faisal Alfahidh.

He added that the suffering of the besieged will be double with the onset of winter, saying this imposes on Qatar Charity a humanitarian duty to mobilize resources and mobilize the public in order to preserve the lives of the besieged and meet their needs, which are increasing dramatically.

He thanked the people of Qatar and all the benefactors who put their trust in Qatar Charity and urged them to continue their support to cope with the challenge of famine in the areas that are on the brink of disaster due to the siege.

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.

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.

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.

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.