Qatar is well known for its humanitarian stand across the globe. The participation of Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in “the International Conference on Assistance and Support to Beirut and the Lebanese People”, held in Paris via video-conferencing, affirms Qatar’s commitment to support the people of Lebanon and contribution to the reconstruction of Beirut after a massive explosion in Beirut port left a trail of devastation.
Qatar quickly responded and provided urgent relief aid to the people of Lebanon. In his speech at the conference, H H the Amir said: “In the meantime we, in terms of people and institutions, quickly responded to the call of the brothers in Lebanon and provided urgent relief aid to them that is worth the sum of fifty million dollars as a contribution to the relief operations and alleviation of the suffering of the Lebanese people and overcoming their extremely difficult circumstances. We have also sent an equipped team from the Qatari International Search and Rescue Group and established field hospitals.”
H H the Amir said: “Lebanon cannot get over this dire circumstance on its own. Facing this crisis and overcoming its dangerous negative repercussions depends on strengthening national unity, unifying and intensifying governmental and societal efforts in Lebanon and providing all necessary forms of aid, from relief to restoration and reconstruction, by the international community.”
H H the Amir also donated QR50m to the ‘Lebanon in Our Hearts’ campaign which raised over QR94m during a live fundraising TV programme in two days. The campaign was organised by the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities in cooperation with Qatar Charity and the Qatar Red Crescent Society to support Lebanese people.
The campaign witnessed a great turnout from the Qatari community to donate and aid their Lebanese brothers, which reflects the honourable positions of the Qatari people and the State of Qatar, in providing relief and aid to all brotherly and friendly people. Qatar Airways carried over 45 tonnes of essential supplies, donated by its employees, from Doha to Beirut.
Donors at the international conference raised pledges worth nearly €253m ($298m) for immediate humanitarian relief. There were also pledges made for longer-term support. World powers promised not to fail the Lebanese people as Beirut recovers from the massive explosion that left 158 people dead, thousands injured and and destroyed swathes of the city last Tuesday.
Some 36 countries and international institutions participated in the conference, which was held under the auspices of the United Nations.
