Leaders of various expatriate communities have lauded the Our Eid Together initiative and hailed the Qatar government's keenness to ensure the welfare of all.

The initiative, in its second phase, has come as a relief for thousands as they are given food and essential commodities during the occasion of Eid al-Adha.

"The government pays much attention towards the communities and takes good care of them,” Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) president AP Manikantan said while describing the initiative as a testimonial for the good approach towards expatriates.

The Our Eid is One initiative in its second phase has benefited as many as 50,000 residents in Qatar. Jointly launched by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), the Ministry of Interior (MoI), the Ministry of Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs (MADLSA), Qatar Charity and Ooredoo, the initiative is implemented in co-operation with various community organisations. It was launched in order to help community members celebrate Eid at their homes and convey the importance of staying at their residences for the prevention of the spread of Covid-19.

Hamid Rasool from Pakistani community hailed the initiative saying it made the Eid blessed for thousands by providing them relief and food. “Many have benefited. And we are working to ensure that the kits reach the right persons,” he said.

Qatar residents from 17 nationalities benefited from 25,000 food coupons that provided them with necessary food items for the Eid. The coupons were distributed on the first day of Eid al-Adha at a function held in the headquarters of the Qatar Charity in Lusail. The embassies of Philippines, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Tunisia, Gambia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Ghana and Kenya and expat community organisations including the Bangladeshi Community Organisation, the Indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF), the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC), the Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre (KMCC), the Cultural Forum, the Indonesian Community Association – Permica, the Indian Community Center, the Helping Hands - Al Khor, the Filipino Community in Qatar, the Non Resident Nepalese Association (NRNA), the Thrissur District Souhruda Vedi, the Kerala Cultural Center and the Sri Lankan Community Development Forum.

Engineer Anwar Hossain Akon, president of the Bangladesh Community- Qatar (BCQ), hailed Qatar and said special arrangements have been made and volunteers are working to implement the scheme. “We have got applications from various parts of the country and beneficiaries have been identified. Kits are being distributed,” he said.

Mohamed Muktda Musalman of the Non Resident Nepali Association said 1,000 kits were distributed among the community members and the community leadership is working to reach the rest of the beneficiaries. The Nepali community received a total of 2,250 kits. “We celebrate Eid through this initiative. And we are glad that the communities are provided with good care,” he said.

Filipino Community leader engineer Henry Dimaano said Qatar is actively engaged in ensuring the welfare of all and is paying special care to the persons in need and the members of the expatriate communities. He said that Filipino representatives are working with Al Hilal, Al Wajba and Al Wakra Al Meera supermarkets where beneficiaries can receive the kits after filling the forms.

Pantalion Perera, president of Sri Lankan Co-ordinating Committee, thanked the Qatar government and said the kits will be distributed to the beneficiaries through the Sri Lankan embassy.

Noor Khan Al Afghani from the Afghani community thanked Qatar saying their members are working to reach out into the beneficiaries across the country.

Omer Farah from Kenyan community said the initiative came at the right time and thanked the ministries and Qatar Charity for helping those in need. "The Kenyan embassy along with the community leaders has identified the beneficiaries and works are on to distribute them the food kits," he said.

Tanzanian community leader Fatma Hassan, who expressed her gratitude to the authorities, said that the initiative will extend relief to the jobless persons in during the tough time. "Qatar deserves applause for doing its bit for the welfare of all. The country is keen to take care of all," she added.



Related Story