Qatar's generous donations funded two humanitarian projects in Somalia, easing the suffering of children with heart conditions and supporting persons with special needs, Qatar Charity (QC) said Sunday.
The projects were launched by a QC delegation, led by Abdulaziz Jassim Hejji, director of the Development Operations Department, with Somali ministers and officials in attendance.
Through its 'Compassionate Hearts' initiative, QC facilitated critical surgeries for 30 children with heart defects at the Somali Sudanese Hospital in Mogadishu, thanks to the dedication of local and international volunteer doctors.
The Somali Minister of Health, Dr. Ali Haji, lauded the initiative as a model of humanitarian solidarity. "Such precise surgeries were once considered impossible within Somalia, forcing patients to travel abroad or live with pain due to a lack of resources. We are grateful to Qatar Charity and all those who contributed to this project, which saved children's lives and restored hope to their families."
Dr Mohamed Ahmed Nairobi, spokesperson for the surgical team, said: "The surgeries performed were not just medical interventions, but a message of new life for the children and their families. Every child's smile we saw after the surgery was a new motivation for us to do more."
The surgeries had a profound impact, greatly improving the health of the children, and their families expressed deep gratitude for the positive outcomes. Samira’s mother described the moment: "It was a true miracle. I never imagined my daughter would return to her normal life so quickly."
QC also launched the first phase of a project to distribute 700 wheelchairs in Somalia, providing 70 electric and manual wheelchairs to support individuals with special needs.
Present were Mohamed Osman, State Minister for Family Affairs and Human Rights; Hejji, and Mohamed Abdali Jama, chairman of Somalia's National Disability Agency.
