Euro 5.6mn QFFD aid to rebuild quake-hit areas in Italy

Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Italian government to donate 5.6mn euro to rebuild the areas damaged by the earthquake that hit Italy in 2016.The MoU was signed at the headquarters of the Council of Ministers in Rome by QFFD Director-General Khalifa bin Jassim al-Kuwari and the extraordinary commissioner of the Italian government for reconstruction Vasco Errani, in the presence of Qatar’s ambassador to Italy Abdulaziz bin Ahmed al-Malki and adviser at the Italian Foreign Ministry Simone Petroni.Commenting on the occasion, the QFFD Director-General Khalifa bin Jassim al-Kuwari said that this support came at direct directives of His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, noting that Qatar was among the first countries to provide support for the Italian government after the earthquake.He noted that the support will focus on the education sector and school building, which is in line with Qatar’s priorities in providing foreign aid.For his part, Qatar’s ambassador to Italy Abdulaziz bin Ahmed al-Malki highlighted the strong and growing relations between Qatar and Italy, noting that the MoU is part of the three agreements signed in Doha during the recent visit of the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Angelino Alfano in the political, investment and military fields.Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD), through the extraordinary commissioner of the Italian government for reconstruction, will allocate a contribution to the construction of a school complex in the municipality of Macerata.The project will cover an area of 24,000 square metres, of which 4,000 square metres will be allocated for the construction of schools.The initiative will cover the entire rehabilitation process from kindergarten, primary school, first level high school and a 330 square metre gymnasium.