|
|
The Qatar Solidarity Day campaign, organised by five major charitable societies, in support of the people of Somalia and the Philippines, has yielded QR31mn from just three-hours of a live-broadcasting fundraiser in addition to 40 tonnes of goods worth QR1mn.
Qatar Petroleum (QP) donated QR2mn and QNB and RasGas QR1mn each.
Among the other major donors were Qatar Islamic Bank (QR500,000), Al Tayseer (QR250,000), Lexus Engineering & Contracting (QR150,000), Abd-al-Razaq al-Rayis (QR100,000), Al Huda for Pilgrimage (QR50,000), Qatar Volleyball Association (QR50,000) and Fatma al-Rumaihi – Retaj (QR50,000).
The goal of the emergency appeal is to collect cash donations up to QR40mn in support of the victims of natural disasters in Somalia and the Philippines.
Relief efforts are being implemented in co-ordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Philippine Red Cross, the Somali Red Crescent as well as other organisations in both countries.
The campaign will provide immediate relief to about 41,000 people in 8,200 families - in addition to non-food items, including blankets, mattresses, sleeping mats and food baskets that will last for one month.
Qatar Relief Alliance teams will also distribute basic hygiene kits to families that will be provided with non-food items in order to reduce the risk of water-borne diseases. Water treatment units capable of producing 100 litres per hour will be available to provide the residents of evacuation centres with clean water.
The Relief Alliance will establish a medical response unit and provide 6,000 families with supplies and tools to repair their homes. Qatar Red Crescent will also implement a recovery phase for 2,000 families whose homes have been totally destroyed in addition to giving emphasis on the right to education of more than 2,000 students by repairing some of the partially destroyed schools in the disaster-hit areas.
In the Philippines, Typhoon Haiyan devastated the Visayas region and wrought damages to two thirds of the country, leaving more than 5,000 people killed and 350,000 injured with hundreds remain missing.
Currently, more than 1,562 relief shelters are housing about 615,774 people from 128,303 families.
The Qatar Relief Alliance has established direct contacts with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the Philippine Red Cross, OCHA, and a number of local humanitarian institutions in the Philippines.
Based on initial assessments, field teams have identified the needs of the affected communities. Exhaustive assessments will be carried out in the coming days to form the basis of future amendments to the intervention plan.
In a statement issued yesterday, Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) said there was an immediate need to distribute food and non-food items. Non-food items may include basic healthcare, and clean water. Shelters remain a top priority as assessments indicated that nearly 1.02mn homes were damaged, 47% of which were totally destroyed.
As part of the month-long campaign started on Tuesday, QRC, Sheikh Eid Charity, RAF Foundation and Al Asmakh Charity will receive in-kind or monetary donations.
QRC has urged businesses and individuals to offer their financial support to those affected by Typhoon Haiyan. Page 30
Bikers to help typhoon victims
Dozens of mountain bikers from different expatriate communities in Qatar are expected to compete at the individual time trial in Mesaieed tomorrow in an event which will benefit families affected by Typhoon Haiyan in Tacloban City, the Philippines. Farhan al-Sayed, a supporter of extreme sports and founder of Qatar Chain Reaction (QCR), has invited all mountain bikers and enthusiasts to test their skills and endurance. The competition dubbed as “Wet and Dry at Mesaieed Trails 2013” will start at 7am. Participants can join any of the three categories: the Open category will take about 10 laps, five for the Weekend Warriors and three for Women. One lap is approximately around 3.5km of mixed hardpack, soft sand and muddy trails. Page 11
