Qatar Charity, UNHCR in pact to aid Rohingya

Al-Kuwari  with Rida at QC headquarters yesterday after signing the agreement.

Qatar Charity (QC) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) signed yesterday a partnership and co-operation agreement to provide aid to Myanmar Muslims in Rakhine state.

Under this agreement QC will donate $2mn (QR 7,300,000) for the benefit of 10,000 displaced people. The QC grant is part of UNHCR relief aid valued at $17mn for the implementation of shelter projects. The agreement was signed by Imran Rida, UNHCR regional representative to the GCC, and Yusuf Bin Ahmed al-Kuwari, CEO of QC.

QC funding will provide temporary shelters worth $1mn to the displaced in Rakhine as well as building kitchens in displacement camps at a cost of $500,000.

UNHCR projects include building 1,360 housing units, two multi-purpose buildings, 11 clinics, 115 kitchens and 18 stores.  

The agreement, which aims at providing services to Rohingya Muslims, came into effect yesterday and QC will provide financial reports to UNHCR.

“QC is keen to promote partnerships with international humanitarian organisations to provide aid to the refugees and displaced around the world, especially in countries like Myanmar,” said al-Kuwari.

Al-Kuwari expressed his appreciation at the co-operation with UNHCR which will allow QC to provide aid to Rohingya Muslims living in difficult conditions.

“It pleases UNHCR to cooperate with QC to respond to the humanitarian needs of the displaced in Rakhine state. This reflects the humanitarian commitment of QC which reinforces international solidarity,” said Rida.

“There are huge needs for 115,000 people displaced by the sectarian violence in Rakhine in June and October, 2012. QC’s contribution provides aid to 10,000 of the most vulnerable displaced people” he added.

QC had signed an agreement with UNHCR in June 2012, where QC provided QR 1,100,000 to aid Rohingya Muslims. The aid was provided after a field visit by a QC team to Arkan province, North West Myanmar, to assess the humanitarian situation of the displaced.