QRCS opens Charitable Village in Northern Syria

An official delegation from Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has visited Aleppo countryside in northern Syria, to inspect and open some humanitarian projects constructed by QRCS and partners for internally displaced people (IDPs).The delegation comprised QRCS Acting Secretary-General Faisal Mohamed Al Emadi, Director of Relief and International Development Division Dr. Mohamed Salah Ibrahim, and social media influencers. They were accompanied by Mazin Abdullah, head of QRCS office in Turkey.On day one, the delegation opened Al-Nasr Charitable Village, constructed by QRCS office in Turkey, in cooperation with the Turkish Red Crescent.Funded by the Qatari philanthropist Mohamed bin Nasr Hassan Al-Nasr, the village provides shelter for 80 displaced Syrian families in Al-Jamel, Jarabulus.The opening ceremony was attended by the generous donor Al-Nasr, Ramazan Saygili, Secretary-General of the Turkish Red Crescent, and senior officials of Jarabulus.In his speech, Al Emadi, said, "Thanks to the benevolent people of Qatar, namely Mr. Mohamed bin Nasr Al-Nasr, whom I warmly thank for his humanitarian initiative, I announce the opening of Al-Nasr Residential Village in Jarabulus, northern Syria, to secure decent housing for those living in camps and alleviate their suffering. This is one of five residential villages being constructed by QRCS in Syria, with a total of 1,500 homes to be handed over to the beneficiaries during the year. We have plans to construct more residential villages in the coming years".Another project opened by the delegation was Rawafed Al-Khair Residential Village in Akhtarin, A'zaz District. It was constructed by QRCS, Turkey's Disaster and Emergency Management Presidency (AFAD), and Hayrat Humanitarian Aid Association, with a generous donation by heirs of the late Abdul-Jalil Abdul-Ghani. The handover ceremony was attended by Hakki Aygun, Chairman of Hayrat Aid, and Khaled Dibo, head of the Akhtarin local council.During the ceremony, Al Emadi stated, "This project is based on a new shelter strategy of shifting from traditional tents to sustainable homes. This approach was adopted by QRCS in 2015, by securing alternative housing as decent shelters that protect beneficiaries against cold and hot weathers. I would like to express grateful thanks to the benevolent people of Qatar, especially heirs of the late Abdul-Jalil Abdul-Ghani, in recognition of their constant support for the brotherly people of Syria. May Allah grant them the best reward in this world and in the Hereafter".Each of the two villages consists of 80 fully furnished 2BHK apartments, or 20 concrete buildings, as well as 1 mosque for men, 1 mosque for women, 1 health center, 1 fully furnished school, 8 shops, 1 water tower, kids areas, water supply and sewage systems, 1 administrative building, parks, and parking lots.QRCS's delegation also inspected the progress of work at Al-Kamal and Humanity First villages, two constructed projects being executed by QRCS and AFAD in Qabasin to shelter 124 and 1,144 displaced families respectively.In Gaziantep, the delegation visited the Turkish Red Crescent's Gaziantep chapter and met its director Fatih Gokhan. They discussed bilateral brotherly relations and joint humanitarian operations in northern Syria. Another meeting was held with Mahmut Coskun, AFAD provincial director in Gaziantep, to discuss Qatar's earthquake response efforts and coordination mechanisms for ongoing and future projects in northern Syria.