DOHA: A high-profile delegation of Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) visited Lebanon to review relief projects for Syrian refugees and hold meetings with international relief officials there.
The delegation comprised Saleh bin Ali Al Mohannadi, Secretary-General, QRCS, and Rashid bin Saad Al Mohannadi, Director, Social Development, Al Khor Branch of the society.
QRCS projects for Syrian refugees, including solar water heaters installed at two shelter complexes in Sir Ed Donie were opened.
Co-funded by QRCS and Bahrain Red Crescent Society (BRCS) , the project will provide warmth for more than 700 Syrians living about 1,000 metres above the sea level, helping protect them against cold-related diseases.
“QRCS’s strategy is focused on sustainable, well-planned and feasible projects that meet the needs of displaced people,” said Saleh bin Ali.
“We are happy with the contribution by BRCS, under the umbrella of the GCC Secretariat-General,” he added.
He took part in preparedness training to inform the displaced about how to deal with fire, storm, snow and flood risks. The training was conducted in cooperation with the Lebanese Red Cross for 10,400 beneficiaries in 20 camps. The delegation also visited central and western Beqaa, where they launched a project to pave the passages inside Al Homsi Camp, Saadnayel, with diphenol and reviewed progress in installing thermal insulation sheets inside the tents.
The visitors supervised the distribution of warm clothes to Syrian students at Al Amal School camp, opened a physiotherapy centre in Majdal Anjar and visited the Department of Oncology and Pharmacy at Ghiras Al Khair Centre. They held a meeting with Lynne Miller, Deputy Representative of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
An MoU was signed by Saleh bin Ali to make a $50,000 contribution to UNHCR’s winterisation aid programme, under which heating oil vouchers will be delivered to 1,000 Syrian families in Arsal, northeastern Lebanon.
Another meeting was held with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Country Director for Lebanon, Matthias Schmale.
They discussed the humanitarian situation of Palestinian refugees in Lebanon and how to work together to help them.
The delegation also attended the closing ceremony of a 10-day Health Emergencies in Large Populations (H.E.L.P.) course, held by QRCS in Beirut, in cooperation with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Lebanese Red Cross (LRC), and Qatar University (QU).The Peninsula
