With the number of forcibly displaced persons and refugees at an unprecedented level, in particular in the Middle East and North Africa, which is a region with the highest number of World’s refugees, humanitarians support from governments and humanitarian NOGs remain lifeline for survival for millions across the world.
According to UNHCR data there are over 70.8 million refugees in the world with over 60 percent of them are displaced people and 80 percent of them are living in developing countries that are already experiencing economic challenges.
Efforts exerted by some countries like Qatar to support the refugees and displaced people have made a significant difference in alleviating the suffering of the affected refugees and displaced persons.
Qatar’s governmental and non-governmental contributions to refugees through the UNHCR for the period 2014-2019 amounted to more than $200m; this is not to say the Qatar’s educational initiatives such as the Educate a Child (EAC) initiative which aims to assist millions of children to access quality primary education.
Qatar also established a fund under the sponsorship of the African Union to cover the evacuation costs of irregular African migrants and victims of human trafficking in Libya and reintegrating them into their communities.
Qatari supports are part of the vision of the Qatari leadership in supporting humanitarian and development programme. It is also “based on the sense of moral and human responsibility, the spirit of international solidarity and burden-sharing to face the major challenges arising from the increasing and complexity of the refugee and internally displaced crisis in the world”. Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the UN Office in Geneva Ambassador Ali Khalfan Al Mansouri, had announced during the annual pledge conference for the UNHCR for 2020, Qatar’s commitment to provide unconditional $8m to UNHCR’s programme for 2020.
The Ambassador stated that “the keenness of the Government of the State of Qatar to encourage Qatari charitable foundations and humanitarian organisations to continue to consolidate the partnership with the UNHCR, and to provide various forms of support necessary to contribute to the implementation of its noble humanitarian programmes and mission in assisting and protecting refugees and promoting their rights, and improving their standard of living, especially the level of education for the future for their children”.
Al Mansouri called during the same session on the international community to find a just solution based on international law and relevant UN resolutions to solve the plight of the Palestinian refugees and put an end to their tragedy and suffering. He stressed that the State of Qatar will continue to provide all necessary support to UNHCR’s efforts to address all challenges and difficulties facing the implementation of its humanitarian programs.
