Qatar Charity (QC) has signed a co-operation agreement with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in Sarajevo, to support migration management in Bosnia and Herzegovina with joint funding of QR3mn by both parties in equal shares.
The agreement was signed by Faisal Rashid a- Fehaida, assistant to the CEO in the Operations and International Co-operation Sector at QC, and Dra?an Rozi?, the IOM Bosnia and Herzegovina Emergency Response Co-ordinator.
The signing ceremony was attended by Hamad Tami al-Hajri, chargé d’affaires at the Qatari embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and several officials from the government and humanitarian and development organisations.
According to the agreement, the allocated amount will be spent on supporting the response to the situation of Asian and African refugees and migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The accommodation centre will be equipped with the basic supplies necessary to provide safe and healthy shelter for the families and protect them from the cold of winter, while IOM will manage and supervise the center within its competence.
“This agreement is in line with Qatar Charity's keenness to continue its co-ordination, co-operation and partnership with international organisations, especially UN agencies, to contribute to supporting Qatar Charity’s efforts in the field of humanitarian and development work worldwide as a means of addressing the challenges of development and humanitarian action, especially for those affected and hit by humanitarian crises,” QC said in a statement.
The project, which will be implemented by QC in co-operation with IOM, will benefit 1,500 migrants from Asia and Africa. It aims to alleviate their suffering, provide shelter to vulnerable people, protect them from the cold of winter and strengthen solidarity with them.
The implementation of the project will take six months and provide 50 residential units (caravans) to accommodate migrants. The project also includes the construction of two units within the centre to receive migrants and organise educational and entertainment activities for them.
Some small infrastructure projects will also be carried out for the local population next to the migrant centre, which aims to maintain good relations between them and migrants and improve the security measures in the centre.
On the sidelines of the signing ceremony of the agreement with IOM, the two sides agreed to develop their relationship through the implementation of more joint projects at the level of the Balkan.
IOM also presented a project for Qatar Charity, which includes the establishment of a new accommodation center for minor migrants and refugees in Bosnia and Herzegovina, considering their age, the need for their care, protection, guidance and the provision of a safe place for them. Qatar Charity will study the project and seek funding for it.
Speaking at the ceremony, al-Fehaida said: “This agreement reflects the desire and keenness of Qatar Charity to strengthen the existing co-operation with IOM, and affirms the strength of the relationship between both organisations, as the charity joined IOM as an observer in 2016.”
Al-Fehaida added that Qatar Charity, through a quarter-century of experience, has expanded its geographical reach in more than 60 countries and has implemented projects in several areas through 31 field offices in 31 countries. The charity also established its strong partnerships with UN agencies and international humanitarian organisations, resulting in more than 93 partnership and co-operation agreements signed to date.
For his part, Rozi? thanked QC for its co-operation and confidence in IOM. He also said this support would be used to manage the migrant centres in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to improve the living conditions of the migrants in the temporary reception centres, in addition to improving the existing infrastructure and expanding the current accommodation capacity in the centres.
He said Qatar Charity's contribution came in a timely manner because there are difficulties concerning the accommodation capacity of migrants who arrive daily in Bosnia and Herzegovina, noting that that there were 4,068 migrants in the IOM-run shelters in co-operation with the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Currently, there are 3,561 migrants accommodated in reception centers in Una Sana Canton.
The signing ceremony was attended by Hamad Tami al-Hajri, chargé d’affaires at the Qatari embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and several officials from the government and humanitarian and development organisations.
According to the agreement, the allocated amount will be spent on supporting the response to the situation of Asian and African refugees and migrants in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The accommodation centre will be equipped with the basic supplies necessary to provide safe and healthy shelter for the families and protect them from the cold of winter, while IOM will manage and supervise the center within its competence.
“This agreement is in line with Qatar Charity's keenness to continue its co-ordination, co-operation and partnership with international organisations, especially UN agencies, to contribute to supporting Qatar Charity’s efforts in the field of humanitarian and development work worldwide as a means of addressing the challenges of development and humanitarian action, especially for those affected and hit by humanitarian crises,” QC said in a statement.
The project, which will be implemented by QC in co-operation with IOM, will benefit 1,500 migrants from Asia and Africa. It aims to alleviate their suffering, provide shelter to vulnerable people, protect them from the cold of winter and strengthen solidarity with them.
The implementation of the project will take six months and provide 50 residential units (caravans) to accommodate migrants. The project also includes the construction of two units within the centre to receive migrants and organise educational and entertainment activities for them.
Some small infrastructure projects will also be carried out for the local population next to the migrant centre, which aims to maintain good relations between them and migrants and improve the security measures in the centre.
On the sidelines of the signing ceremony of the agreement with IOM, the two sides agreed to develop their relationship through the implementation of more joint projects at the level of the Balkan.
IOM also presented a project for Qatar Charity, which includes the establishment of a new accommodation center for minor migrants and refugees in Bosnia and Herzegovina, considering their age, the need for their care, protection, guidance and the provision of a safe place for them. Qatar Charity will study the project and seek funding for it.
Speaking at the ceremony, al-Fehaida said: “This agreement reflects the desire and keenness of Qatar Charity to strengthen the existing co-operation with IOM, and affirms the strength of the relationship between both organisations, as the charity joined IOM as an observer in 2016.”
Al-Fehaida added that Qatar Charity, through a quarter-century of experience, has expanded its geographical reach in more than 60 countries and has implemented projects in several areas through 31 field offices in 31 countries. The charity also established its strong partnerships with UN agencies and international humanitarian organisations, resulting in more than 93 partnership and co-operation agreements signed to date.
For his part, Rozi? thanked QC for its co-operation and confidence in IOM. He also said this support would be used to manage the migrant centres in Bosnia and Herzegovina and to improve the living conditions of the migrants in the temporary reception centres, in addition to improving the existing infrastructure and expanding the current accommodation capacity in the centres.
He said Qatar Charity's contribution came in a timely manner because there are difficulties concerning the accommodation capacity of migrants who arrive daily in Bosnia and Herzegovina, noting that that there were 4,068 migrants in the IOM-run shelters in co-operation with the Ministry of Security of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Currently, there are 3,561 migrants accommodated in reception centers in Una Sana Canton.
