Qatar took part in a virtual briefing on the humanitarian situation in Lebanon, held by the United Nations Office for Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Sultan bin Saad al-Muraikhi represented Qatar at the meeting held via a video conference.
Addressing the meeting, HE al-Muraikhi conveyed heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Lebanon, and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
He said that this catastrophe comes at a time when Lebanon is already facing grave conditions and difficulties, therefore, it needs the support of the international community to overcome this critical time.
He noted the participation of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani in the virtual International Conference on Assistance and Support to Beirut and the Lebanese People, which was hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and the Amir's assertion on the bonds of brotherhood and solidarity with Lebanon and its people, and the Amir's announcement of providing urgent relief aid worth $50mn as a contribution to the relief operations and alleviation of the suffering of the Lebanese people and overcoming their extremely difficult circumstances, as well as additional contributions to the international efforts for the reconstruction of Beirut.
Within a few hours of the accident, a Qatari cargo plane took off for Beirut carrying medical supplies, followed by more aircraft equipped with equipment and supplies, and the installation of two complete field hospitals. A Search and Rescue Group consisting of 50 experts from the Internal Security Forces headed to Beirut, HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs added.
He expressed Qatar's appreciation for the participation of HE UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in the virtual briefing on the humanitarian situation in Lebanon in order to highlight the severity of this disaster.
"On behalf of the State of Qatar, I would like to extend our sincere gratitude to HE UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Co-ordinator Mark Lowcock for holding and chairing this conference in such a short time, to highlight the seriousness of the situation and the state of emergency resulting from this catastrophic incident in Beirut," HE al-Muraikhi concluded.
Related Story