‘Qatar plays crucial role in assisting those affected by conflicts’

Doha: Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs H E Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater and United Nations Under Sec...

Doha: Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs H E Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater and United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator H E Martin Griffiths opened the High-Level Strategic Dialogue between the State of Qatar and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Doha yesterday.   

The opening was attended by officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and concerned authorities in the country.

In her opening speech of the strategic dialogue, the Minister of State for International Cooperation emphasised that Qatar has taken proactive steps to ensure a rapid response to emergencies, alleviate the suffering of those caught in crises, and protect human lives.

She said that Qatar established an air bridge to provide humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and Sudan, reflecting the country’s firm commitment to alleviating the plight of those affected by the conflict.

H E Al Khater added that the State of Qatar plays a crucial role in providing humanitarian aid, medical support, and assistance in shelter efforts for those affected by conflicts. In December 2023, Qatar pledged to provide an initial $50m humanitarian aid package to support refugees, the displaced, the wounded, the orphans, and victims of the Israeli military aggression on the Gaza Strip. She pointed out that Qatar sent 114 aircraft and ships carrying around 5,000 tonnes of aid to enhance relief efforts and also launched an initiative to treat 1,500 wounded Gazans and sponsor 3,000 orphans affected by the ongoing war in Gaza. In addition, Qatar pledged to provide $25m to support UNRWA, which comes in addition to the previous commitment to support UNRWA with $18m, covering 2023-2024.