Doha / Information Office / October 10

Upon the directives of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al -Thani, Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) has announced $150 million in emergency aid to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the besieged Gaza Strip for years.

Approximately 2 million people live in the Gaza Strip in an area of only 365 square kilometers and can not move beyond this narrow geographical area, where they are also prohibited from many items necessary for a decent life, in addition to the daily suffocating conditions, where electricity is cut off most of the day, which negatively affects the vital facilities, including educational and healthcare institutions, especially in the hot summer months and in the cold winter.

Over the past ten years, the Strip has been subjected to two wars that destroyed the infrastructure, including educational and health projects in which the State of Qatar contributed to along with the international institutions and European countries. This support comes within the context of alleviating the suffering of the brotherly Palestinian people, who lost many of their children, youth and women either in confrontations with the Israeli occupation forces or because of poor living conditions and poor health care.

The United Nations and its various institutions have issued numerous calls warning of the consequences of what is happening in Gaza and leaving the humanitarian situation to explode. It also called on the international community to rush to relief the Palestinians and to fill the deficit caused by violation by some States of their official and humanitarian obligations to the Palestinian people.

Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) in compliance with the directives of HH the Amir, and his affirmation that the State of Qatar will continue to support the brethren Palestinians , will work urgently to activate this package of assistance through the United Nations Development Program and the concerned international bodies.