Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani’s directive to provide $50m grant to the displaced Syrians and the Syrian refugees is a reflection of Qatar’s solidarity with the Syrian people and its compassion towards the underprivileged people who are suffering from the harsh winter conditions in different refugee camps.
The State’s grant will provide an urgent relief package and several development programmes through Qatar Fund for Development to the Syrian refugees in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan and the displaced people within Syria.
Out of the $50m grant, $20m will go for the support of the displaced people within Syria, $10m each for the programmes supporting refugees in Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon. From the grant allocated for Syrian refugees in Lebanon, $5m will be given to support the relief campaign in Arsal, being supervised by Qatar Charity.
Qatar Fund for Development, in coordination with its partners such as the White Helmets and related United Nations agencies, will be responsible for spending the grant in direct humanitarian relief programmes to alleviate the hardships of those who reel under the freezing conditions of the severe winter and snow fall.
An initiative under the auspices of Qatar Charity and several business people and philanthropists gathered more than QR214m towards the Arsal Relief campaign run on Qatar TV. It is a proof of values, principles and morals of the Qatari people and their sympathy towards the suffering brothers and sisters.
Qatar has been a staunch supporter of humanitarian efforts across the world through its varied efforts through a variety of organisations within and outside the country. Qatar has been at the forefront in the fight for the rights and freedom of Syrian people who have been suffering from a war perpetrated by their own leaders.
It is worth recalling the historic and humanitarian position of H H the Amir to cancel all the celebrations of National Day in 2016 in solidarity with the people of Aleppo who were subjected to the worst repression, torture, displacement and genocide. On that day Qatari people rallied in Darb Al Saai to express their support to Aleppo and a huge sum was collected to help the brothers there.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani recently reiterated Qatar’s firm stance on bringing about a political solution to the Syrian imbroglio that satisfies the citizens of that country.
While some regional countries seek normalisation of relations with the criminal regime in Damascus, the official position of Qatar were welcomed with gratitude by the Syrian people.
