QR253mn volume of Qatar's humanitarian aid for earthquake victims: MoFA official

The volume of Qatar's humanitarian aid for earthquake victims in Turkiye and northern Syria amounted to about QR253mn, including food, medical and other aid, at a time when the State continues to pursue field priorities to support rescue efforts and alleviate the suffering of those affected.Dr Majed Mohamed al-Ansari, Adviser to HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, detailed the aforementioned assistance during the weekly media briefing organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) at its headquarters.He explained that the obligations of Qatar to the brothers affected by the effects of the earthquakes in Turkiye and northern Syria amounted to QR85mn during the first 10 days of the disaster. The urgent relief campaign for earthquake victims, 'Oun wa Sanad', launched by the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities (RACA) collected QR168mn in one night, he added.He stressed that the number of air bridge flights has so far reached 30, carrying more than 600 tonnes of food, medical and humanitarian aid, while 650 readymade housing units (mobile homes) have been shipped out of a total of 10,000 that are being planned to be transported and delivered to Turkish ports as soon as possible. Also, the Qatar Fund for Development has provided support to the operations of the Syrian Civil Defence (White Helmets), in order to rescue and provide relief to the victims of the earthquake in Syria and to assist the search and rescue teams, while necessary support has been provided to repair ambulances to help transport the wounded to hospitals along with efforts made to meet the need for fuel to operate heavy vehicles,He noted that the remaining part of the support will be used to cover the necessary activities in the affected areas and to rehabilitate the basic infrastructure.Al-Ansari pointed to the continued provision of Qatari aid in co-ordination with the brothers in Turkiye and northern Syria, stressing the importance of focusing on the issue of following up on field priorities in terms of the enormous needs. He added that there are logistical difficulties, especially in reaching some areas in northern Syria, stressing that Qatar has tried as much as possible to make an effort to support rescue efforts and alleviate the suffering of those affected.

• FM's visit to US

Dr al-Ansari touched on the visit of HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani to Washington, DC, last week, pointing out that he held a series of meetings aimed at developing bilateral relations between the two countries, and also discussed many regional and international issues. On top of these were developments and talks with regard to returning to the nuclear agreement and the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, in addition to the situation in Afghanistan, energy issues, climate change and co-operation in the field of disasters, discussing ways to co-ordinate international efforts for rescue and relief operations and aid delivery to Turkiye and northern Syria, and a number of international issues of common interest.Al-Ansari pointed out that HE Sheikh Mohamed met with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and US Special Envoy for Iran Robert Malley, in addition to a number of other US officials, members of the Senate and US Representatives, and a number of state governors, including those of Oklahoma and Arizona.

• Qatar-Bahrain meeting

Dr al-Ansari referred to the convening of a Qatari-Bahraini meeting to set mechanisms and procedures for launching the course of bilateral talks at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Co-operation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf. Qatar's delegation at the meeting was headed by HE Sheikh Mohamed, representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while Bahrain's delegation was headed by Dr. Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, Minister of Foreign Affairs, pointing out that the talks were at the level of bilateral committees between the two countries.He added that the two sides stressed, at the conclusion of the meeting, the importance of work and co-operation between the two brotherly countries in a way that enhances brotherly relations, achieves the aspirations of their peoples for security, stability and development, and supports the GCC joint action.Dr al-Ansari also referred to the convening of the first meeting of the Qatari-Bahraini Follow-up Committee. Qatar's delegation at the meeting was headed by HE Secretary-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr Ahmed bin Hassan al-Hammadi, while Bahrain's delegation was headed by Undersecretary for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdulla bin Ahmed al-Khalifa.They discussed the necessary procedures and mechanisms and ways to ensure the success of the bilateral talks to end the pending special files between the two brotherly countries, in accordance with what was included in the statement issued by the Al-Ula summit held in the sisterly Saudi Arabia, and in a way that achieves the aspirations of the peoples of the two brotherly countries for security, stability and prosperity.The two sides agreed to hold periodic and continuous meetings with the aim of achieving the desired goals.

• Meetings with diplomats

Ibrahim Sultan al-Hashmi, Director of the MoFA's Media & Communication Department, reviewed the meetings of the ministry's officials with ambassadors and diplomats. He mentioned the meetings held by HE the Assistant Foreign Minister Lolwah bint Rashid AlKhater with Schahina Gambir, Member of the Federal Parliament (Bundestag) of Germany, and Petar Mihatov, Director-General for Political Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Croatia.