Officials at the Humanitarian and Development Forum for Palestine held under the theme 'Together We Make Hope' in Doha yesterday.
The Qatar Fund for Development (QFD) has disbursed more than $812m to support Palestinians as part of a total commitment worth $1.9bn, said a senior official.
“Qatar's support to the Palestinian people covered various sectors such as health, education and economic empowerment, infrastructure, roads and social housing, agriculture, energy and others,” said Khalifa bin Jassim Al Kuwari, Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development.
He said there was an urgent need to set up a platform that brings together all those interested in the development and humanitarian issues in Palestine in order to exchange information and experiences and look for effective solutions and respond to the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people.
Al Kuwari stressed that the Fund will continue to support the Palestinian people in various development and humanitarian actions in coordination with government and non-government partners at the local and international levels, describing the forum as an opportunity for consultation and coordination to ensure effective assistance to the people of Palestine to enhance their steadfastness in the face of challenges and crises they face.
Al Kuwari was speaking at the Humanitarian and Development Forum for Palestine held under the theme 'Together We Make Hope'.
The forum is organised by Qatar Charity and sponsored by Qatar Fund for Development along with other international and UN organisations.
Eighty-five percent of the families in Gaza depend daily on humanitarian aid which is unacceptable, said Assistant Secretary General of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ambassador Hesham Youssef.
He referred to a report by the United Nations stating that if the siege of Gaza continues, normal life will not be viable in the territory by 2020 due to the ongoing unemployment, and as 95 percent of its water is unfit for drinking and its education, health, and economy system is deteriorating.
He praised Arab support for Palestinians over the years and called for continuing this support.
Youssef called for establishing an efficient facility to exchange data, discuss and coordinate aid to Palestinians, confirming OIC's support to achieve such a tool.
The CEO of Qatar Charity, Yusuf bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, said this forum, attended by various international and regional players, contributes to strengthening the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, referring to the centrality of the Palestinian cause and its importance for the Arab and Islamic worlds and he commended the efforts of many parties from different parts of the world in support of the Palestinian people.
