Qatar
QC supports Yemeni refugees in Somalia
QC supports Yemeni refugees in Somalia
June 26, 2016 | 12:04 AM
Qatar Charity (QC) has inaugurated a project to support Yemeni refugees in Somalia through its office there, coinciding with the start of Ramadan.The project is being implemented in line with a request from the Yemeni ambassador in Somalia, to help the refugees, through the Qatari embassy in Mogadishu, QC has said in a statement. A number of dignitaries attended the inauguration, including Hassan bin Hamza, chargé d’affaires of Qatar’s embassy in Somalia; Yousef Hussein Jam’ali, mayor of Mogadishu and governor of Banadir; Mohamed al-Shayef, the Yemeni ambassador; Yemeni embassy staff and some members of the Somali Parliament. The project includes building 100 tents for Yemeni refugees living on the Yemeni embassy premises in Mogadishu. It also involves distributing dry food materials to 300 families among the Yemeni refugees, operating a health centre, providing necessary health services to the Yemeni refugees for six months, providing a water desalination device that works on solar energy, and furnishing a school to provide the students with primary education, according to the statement.The project’s officials organised a follow-up visit to the health centre in a camp and the refugees’ shelter in order to ensure they have their needs and basic life requirements met. The officials helped in the distribution of food supplies to the benefiting families, who would be helped for six months. This would help in the alleviation of their sufferings. In addition, they would be aided through the provision of shelter, food, drinks, and health and education services, the statement noted.Jam’ali expressed gratitude and appreciation for QC’s efforts in Somalia and stressed the importance of the project for Yemeni refugees in Somalia. On his part, al-Shayef said: “In times of war and asylum, the Yemenis are very grateful and thankful. I am sure that this project will help Yemenis survive and meet their needs.” QC had earlier offered similar aid to Yemeni refugees in Somalia, which included food parcels for 1,200 families - each sufficient for a month. The project targeted Yemeni refugees and some Somalis who returned from Yemen and live in Mogadishu, Hargeisa and Bosaso. The Yemeni embassy in Somalia had a significant role in the distribution of aid and co-ordination of relief. The provision of urgent aid has played a key role in alleviating the sufferings of the Yemenis, the statement adds. In 2014, urgent relief worth QR3,272,157 was offered to 914,191 people. In 2015, the number of beneficiaries increased to 2,133,112 due to the impact of the war, with the cost reaching QR34,838,631. There have been a total of 4,182,293 beneficiaries in Yemen, with the cost of QC projects implemented there touching QR180,000,000 over the past three years. QC’s office was opened there as well.
June 26, 2016 | 12:04 AM