The government and people of Qatar have always been keen to support the Syrian people since the start of civil war in Syria in March 2011.
It has been providing aid to refugees and internally displaced and the total amount of Qatari aid for the Syrian people has surpassed $2bn.
In July, Qatar dispatched a team to take part in firefighting operations in the areas of Latakia countryside on the Syrian coast, and provide humanitarian aid to help mitigate the effects and repercussions of these fires.
At the 3rd International Pledging Conference for Syria in Kuwait in 2015, Qatar launched an initiative to establish a fund for vocational education and training for Syrians, and pledged an amount of $100m.
Qatar hosted the 10th meeting of the major donors group for Syria in 2024.
Besides, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have settled Syria’s arrears to the World Bank, amounting to approximately $15m.
The step will contribute to resumption of World Bank programmes in Syria.
The bank is now preparing its first project in Syria, which will focus on improving electricity access — a key pillar for revitalising essential services like healthcare, education, and water supply.
It is the beginning of expanded support aimed at stabilising Syria and boosting long-term growth.
Qatar’s assistance for the Syria includes the supply of natural gas for electricity generation.
Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) has announced the inauguration of the Turkiye-Syria Natural Gas Pipeline and commencement of the natural gas supply by Azerbaijan to Syria and the launch of second phase of electricity support to Syria with a capacity of 800 megawatts.
The gas supplied by Azerbaijan will help activate a power plant, meeting the electricity needs of approximately five million households, and making a significant contribution to the normalisation of daily life in Syria.
The supplies will be received at the Aleppo power station and the electricity will be distributed across various cities and neighbourhoods in Syria.
The first phase was aimed at distributing electricity to several Syrian cities, including Damascus, Rif Dimashq, As Suwayda, Daraa, Al Qunaitra, Homs, Hama, Tartus, Latakia, Aleppo, and Deir ez-Zur.
US Ambassador to Turkiye and Special Envoy for Syria, Thomas Barrack, appreciated Qatar’s funding of the gas initiative for Syria, describing it a demonstration of partnership and friendship by its wise leadership.
In a post on the X platform, Barrack wrote, “Heartfelt thanks to Qatar for fully funding a vital gas initiative for Syria,” calling it “a profound step towards relief and stability at a critical moment.”
