Qatar Charity (QC), since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, has signed various co-operation agreements with several international organisations, including the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to contribute to the global efforts to limit the spread of the virus in many countries and provide emergency assistance to those affected.
This is aimed at reaching out to the largest number of beneficiaries and improving their living conditions, QC has said in a statement.
* With UNHCR
Qatar Charity, in co-operation with the UNHCR, began providing emergency assistance to Syrian refugees throughout Lebanon in response to the humanitarian needs resulting from the spread of Covid-19, as part of a $1.5mn agreement signed between the two parties.
This co-operation enables QC to provide support in various forms for programmes focused on improving the living conditions of refugees during this difficult time.
* With OCHA
Under the co-operation with the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), QC has started to establish 14 community-based isolation units in northern Syria to benefit 2,800 people of camps at a total cost of $1.6mn.
The initiative came as part of the urgent response to the Covid-19 outbreak, aiming to protect internally displaced Syrians living in camps from the virus.
OCHA contributed to the project a total of $830,000, while Qatar Charity will equip these medical and non-medical units with $770,000.
* With Unicef
QC and Unicef have signed two grant agreements for a total of $2mn to address the humanitarian needs caused by the spread of Covid-19 in Syria and Jordan.
A sum of $1mn was allocated to provide water, sanitation and hygiene services for Syrian refugees in Jordan and an additional $1mn to support Unicef's efforts to improve Covid-19 preparedness and response in Syria.
The two agreements "reflect the commitment of Qatar Charity and Unicef to teamwork and partnerships in the humanitarian sector, which are more important than ever to protect the vulnerable", the statement notes.
* Awareness efforts
The co-operation between QC and Unicef also included awareness-raising efforts against the risks of the novel coronavirus. Qatar Charity, in co-operation with Unicef, launched a social media awareness campaign for children, their families and members of the society to
enhance their protection against the novel coronavirus and reduce its spread.
The campaign implemented under a slogan that literally means 'Heroes in the Face of Corona', includes publishing illustrated awareness brochures and pamphlets on Qatar Charity’s website and social media accounts to encourage children and adolescents to adhere to preventive behaviours and precautionary measures.
The agreements with international organisations are in line with QC’s Coronavirus Prevention and Response Plan to support and scale up vulnerable countries’ preparedness and response efforts. In the beginning of March, Qatar Charity urgently scaled up relief efforts across 27 countries where it is supporting local governments’ efforts by mitigating the socio-economic impacts of the measures taken by these countries to curb the spread of the virus.
* With UNHCR
Qatar Charity, in co-operation with the UNHCR, began providing emergency assistance to Syrian refugees throughout Lebanon in response to the humanitarian needs resulting from the spread of Covid-19, as part of a $1.5mn agreement signed between the two parties.
This co-operation enables QC to provide support in various forms for programmes focused on improving the living conditions of refugees during this difficult time.
* With OCHA
Under the co-operation with the United Nations Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), QC has started to establish 14 community-based isolation units in northern Syria to benefit 2,800 people of camps at a total cost of $1.6mn.
The initiative came as part of the urgent response to the Covid-19 outbreak, aiming to protect internally displaced Syrians living in camps from the virus.
OCHA contributed to the project a total of $830,000, while Qatar Charity will equip these medical and non-medical units with $770,000.
* With Unicef
QC and Unicef have signed two grant agreements for a total of $2mn to address the humanitarian needs caused by the spread of Covid-19 in Syria and Jordan.
A sum of $1mn was allocated to provide water, sanitation and hygiene services for Syrian refugees in Jordan and an additional $1mn to support Unicef's efforts to improve Covid-19 preparedness and response in Syria.
The two agreements "reflect the commitment of Qatar Charity and Unicef to teamwork and partnerships in the humanitarian sector, which are more important than ever to protect the vulnerable", the statement notes.
* Awareness efforts
The co-operation between QC and Unicef also included awareness-raising efforts against the risks of the novel coronavirus. Qatar Charity, in co-operation with Unicef, launched a social media awareness campaign for children, their families and members of the society to
enhance their protection against the novel coronavirus and reduce its spread.
The campaign implemented under a slogan that literally means 'Heroes in the Face of Corona', includes publishing illustrated awareness brochures and pamphlets on Qatar Charity’s website and social media accounts to encourage children and adolescents to adhere to preventive behaviours and precautionary measures.
The agreements with international organisations are in line with QC’s Coronavirus Prevention and Response Plan to support and scale up vulnerable countries’ preparedness and response efforts. In the beginning of March, Qatar Charity urgently scaled up relief efforts across 27 countries where it is supporting local governments’ efforts by mitigating the socio-economic impacts of the measures taken by these countries to curb the spread of the virus.
