HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani met today with the United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Martin Griffiths, who is currently visiting the country.

During the meeting, they reviewed bilateral cooperation between the State of Qatar and the United Nations, and the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan.

They also discussed the existing coordination between the State of Qatar and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

HE the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs affirmed Qatar's support for international humanitarian efforts, and its commitment to cooperate with the United Nations regarding humanitarian affairs.

His Excellency expressed Qatar's aspiration for more fruitful partnerships with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, due to the important role that it plays at the international level to ensure a rapid response to international emergency.

On March, Qatar and the United Nations signed an agreement to establish the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the State of Qatar. It aims to coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors, defend the rights of those in need, raise the level of alert and protection, and facilitate sustainable solutions. It will also support the main United Nations office's mission of coordinating global humanitarian action and field operations around the world.