When it comes to helping needy people, Qatar is leading from the front. The country has never shied away from contributing generously for humanitarian causes.
Qatar has contributed $4.5bn to international aid to more than 100 countries in the world from 2012 to mid 2017. What makes these efforts commendable is that the assistance comes from government and non-governmental entities. According to the Government Communication Office (GCO), $2.9bn was provided by the government while $1.6bn was provided by Qatari Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). Relief, infrastructure and education were the sectors mostly targeted by the Qatar’s aid while Africa, Middle East and Asia are the regions receiving more aid.
From 2013 to September 2017, Qatar’s commitment to UN agencies and international organisations totalled $251.54m, of which $111m was disbursed.
Qatari foreign and non-governmental assistance is almost $2bn a year on average. Also country’s proportion of the assistance provided by Qatar has exceeded the official development assistance (ODA) of the developed countries.
Qatar’s financial assistance plays a crucial role in maintaining peace and security, protecting human rights and facilitating development in countries facing economic and humanitarian crises and natural disasters.
The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in his address to 72nd session of UNGA on September 19 had said that within the framework of the international efforts to tackle the humanitarian crises, the State of Qatar has continued to contribute to the growing humanitarian needs in the world.
“We have increased our financial contributions to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to enable the United Nations to implement UN programs and provide humanitarian relief to those in need worldwide. Today the State of Qatar ranks third on the list of major donors in 2017 to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,” the Emir added. In 2016, Qatar supported the Lives and Livelihoods Fund by donating $50m, of which $9.74m was disbursed.
In 2016, Qatar also supported the Global Fund with a donation of $10m to combat communicable diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, of which $3.3m was disbursed. In the same year, Qatar supported OCHA’s projects in Syria with a donation $5m. The grant was fully disbursed.
Through its five-year strategy for 2016 to 2020, Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) will increase grants to UN agencies by more than 20 percent of the total government aid it receives, the GCO said.
At the time when the world is roiled with conflicts, Qatar has showed the way to other countries on helping needy people in the countries facing economic and humanitarian crises and natural disasters.
