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Qatar has pledged $60mn to help relieve sufferings of the Syrian refugees and displaced people who are facing a severely cold winter in the region. |
This was announced by Foreign Minister HE Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah during his keynote address before the second international donors conference to support the humanitarian situation in Syria yesterday.
HE al-Attiyah called on the international community to intensify its efforts in addressing the needs of Syrian refugees and those displaced in their country.
He said: “Due to the urgency for the delivery of such assistance, HH the Emir of the State of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has instructed to allocate $23mn of the aforementioned amount, in co-ordination with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, through the Qatar Red Crescent.”
Citing the UN reports that more than half the population of Syria, at home or abroad who are in need of humanitarian assistance, the Foreign Minister referred to the presence of at least 2.5mn Syrian living in areas difficult for aid workers to reach.
HE al-Attiyah lashed out at the international community’s silence at not taking a serious and decisive attitude against the current Syrian regime to provide safe corridors to deliver humanitarian aid to all inside the Syrian territories, He considered that as not a crime against the Syrian people, but also a crime against the international community itself.
On Qatar’s position towards the Syrian people, the Foreign Minister said: “Out of its firm belief to fulfil its international obligations and humanitarian duty towards the Syrian people, the State of Qatar has initiated since the beginning of the Syrian crisis and until now to provide all aspects of humanitarian aid to alleviate the suffering of Syrian brethren, inside and outside Syria.”
He reiterated that Qatar will spare no effort to continue to provide humanitarian aid to the Syrian people even beyond the ordeal and achieve their legitimate aspirations for freedom and a decent life and to participate effectively in the future of Syria.
The minister expressed his thanks to Syria’s neighbouring countries for their fulfillment of obligations and ethical humanity and their ability to ease the suffering of the Syrian refugees.
HE al-Attiyah expressed deep thanks to the Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Jaber al-Sabah, and his country for their tireless efforts to ensure the success of the conference.
Foreign Minister meets Guterres
Qatar’s Foreign Minister HE Dr Khalid bin Mohamed al-Attiyah met in Kuwait yesterday with Antonio Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), on the sidelines of the second international donors conference to support the humanitarian situation in Syria which started earlier in the day.
Guterres briefed the Foreign Minister on the latest developments related to the Syrian refugees. For his part, HE al-Attiyah has reiterated Qatar’s support to the Syrian refugees and renewed the call for securing safe corridors for the humanitarian aid.
He also conferred with Pekka Haavisto, the Finnish Minister for International Development. They discussed bilateral relations and means of bolstering them in addition to the latest regional developments.
