Qatar Affirms Keenness on Strengthening Partnership and Constructive Dialogue with UNHCR
Geneva/ Information Office/ 04 October 2017/ The State of Qatar stressed its keenness to strengthen partnership and constructive dialogue with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), noting the increasing concern of the international community about the continuing high rate of asylum and displacement around the world.
Addressing the General Debate of the 68th session of the UNHCR Executive Committee on Wednesday, the Third Secretary of Qatar's Permanent Mission to the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva Abdullah Khalifa Al Suwaidi said that the contributions made by the State of Qatar to the UNHCR during the past ten years worth more than $97 million, in the framework of its keenness to strengthen partnership and constructive dialogue with the Commission.
He noted that the phenomenon of asylum and displacement in the world has gained great importance when the world countries agreed on the General Assembly resolution 71/1, which resulted in the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants.
Despite the progress made on protecting refugees and improving their situation in a number of regions of the world, the level of challenges and great needs requires concerted efforts, burden sharing and a comprehensive international approach that focuses on addressing root causes.
Al Suwaidi said that Qatar's development and relief contributions have spread to more than 100 countries around the world, supporting more than 10 million children and building the capacities of 1.2 million Arab youth to be active in their communities. In the last five years, Qatar has tripled the value of its assistance to reach QR13 billion (equivalent to over $3.5 billion), both bilateral and multilateral.
Moreover, many non-governmental organizations, such as Silatech, are working to promote the employment of refugees. The Education Above All Foundation supports the education of children in conflict and disaster areas, including refugees, in order to provide educational opportunities and improve livelihoods, thus, contributing to rebuilding communities and homelands.
The State of Qatar has also established a fund for education and professional development for refugees and displaced persons in the Middle East, in partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and humanitarian actors, he added.
In the same context, the Third Secretary of Qatar's Permanent Mission to the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva Abdullah Khalifa Al Suwaidi referred to the strategic cooperation agreement signed between Qatar Charity and the UNHCR on Tuesday which aims to enhance cooperation, partnership and joint efforts between the two sides, and to find out means to provide financial resources for relief projects for refugees and displaced persons around the world, on the basis of co-financing, through a minimum annual contribution of $3 million.
This agreement is the first of its kind with a charitable organization in the region, and includes the implementation of humanitarian projects according to international standards and requirements, Al Suwaidi noted.
He announced that the 2017 donations from the State of Qatar for humanitarian response and other voluntary contributions were estimated at $26.7 million and that 90.7% of the support in 2017 was allocated to three countries: Syria, Yemen and Somalia. Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2011, the volume of the country's government and non-governmental assistance has reached more than $1.6 billion.
The State of Qatar also provided assistance to Palestine during the period from 2011 to 2016, amounting to $1.3 billion, while the amount of government and non-governmental assistance to Yemen from 2010 to 2016 reached more than $400 million.
On the other hand, the State of Qatar is currently formulating and implementing a plan to support Rohingya for refugees, on the political and development track and in cooperation with the Qatar Red Crescent.
Al Suwaidi noted that Qatar hosted many conferences and meetings on refugees and displaced persons, referring to the 17th Doha Forum which was held in May 2017 under the theme "Development, Stability and Refugee Issues", with a broad international participation of decision-makers, think tanks and representatives of international and regional organizations and institutions.
Qatar's role is not limited to humanitarian, relief and development assistance, it has a prominent role in mediating disputes and resolving crises through means of peaceful settlement, which contribute to enhancing regional and international stability, and represent a preventive factor to avoid the problems of asylum and displacement. Al Suwaidi underlined that the Qatari aid stems from purely humanitarian motives and the principle of standing with the needy and the victims and the oppressed without discrimination between race, color, sex or religion.
Concluding, the Third Secretary of Qatar's Permanent Mission to the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva Abdullah Khalifa Al Suwaidi reiterated Qatar's continued humanitarian commitment and continued support for the activities and programs of the UNHCR, as well as its commitment to continue cooperation and partnership within the international community to meet the humanitarian and development challenges.
Addressing the General Debate of the 68th session of the UNHCR Executive Committee on Wednesday, the Third Secretary of Qatar's Permanent Mission to the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva Abdullah Khalifa Al Suwaidi said that the contributions made by the State of Qatar to the UNHCR during the past ten years worth more than $97 million, in the framework of its keenness to strengthen partnership and constructive dialogue with the Commission.
He noted that the phenomenon of asylum and displacement in the world has gained great importance when the world countries agreed on the General Assembly resolution 71/1, which resulted in the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants.
Despite the progress made on protecting refugees and improving their situation in a number of regions of the world, the level of challenges and great needs requires concerted efforts, burden sharing and a comprehensive international approach that focuses on addressing root causes.
Al Suwaidi said that Qatar's development and relief contributions have spread to more than 100 countries around the world, supporting more than 10 million children and building the capacities of 1.2 million Arab youth to be active in their communities. In the last five years, Qatar has tripled the value of its assistance to reach QR13 billion (equivalent to over $3.5 billion), both bilateral and multilateral.
Moreover, many non-governmental organizations, such as Silatech, are working to promote the employment of refugees. The Education Above All Foundation supports the education of children in conflict and disaster areas, including refugees, in order to provide educational opportunities and improve livelihoods, thus, contributing to rebuilding communities and homelands.
The State of Qatar has also established a fund for education and professional development for refugees and displaced persons in the Middle East, in partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and humanitarian actors, he added.
In the same context, the Third Secretary of Qatar's Permanent Mission to the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva Abdullah Khalifa Al Suwaidi referred to the strategic cooperation agreement signed between Qatar Charity and the UNHCR on Tuesday which aims to enhance cooperation, partnership and joint efforts between the two sides, and to find out means to provide financial resources for relief projects for refugees and displaced persons around the world, on the basis of co-financing, through a minimum annual contribution of $3 million.
This agreement is the first of its kind with a charitable organization in the region, and includes the implementation of humanitarian projects according to international standards and requirements, Al Suwaidi noted.
He announced that the 2017 donations from the State of Qatar for humanitarian response and other voluntary contributions were estimated at $26.7 million and that 90.7% of the support in 2017 was allocated to three countries: Syria, Yemen and Somalia. Since the beginning of the Syrian crisis in 2011, the volume of the country's government and non-governmental assistance has reached more than $1.6 billion.
The State of Qatar also provided assistance to Palestine during the period from 2011 to 2016, amounting to $1.3 billion, while the amount of government and non-governmental assistance to Yemen from 2010 to 2016 reached more than $400 million.
On the other hand, the State of Qatar is currently formulating and implementing a plan to support Rohingya for refugees, on the political and development track and in cooperation with the Qatar Red Crescent.
Al Suwaidi noted that Qatar hosted many conferences and meetings on refugees and displaced persons, referring to the 17th Doha Forum which was held in May 2017 under the theme "Development, Stability and Refugee Issues", with a broad international participation of decision-makers, think tanks and representatives of international and regional organizations and institutions.
Qatar's role is not limited to humanitarian, relief and development assistance, it has a prominent role in mediating disputes and resolving crises through means of peaceful settlement, which contribute to enhancing regional and international stability, and represent a preventive factor to avoid the problems of asylum and displacement. Al Suwaidi underlined that the Qatari aid stems from purely humanitarian motives and the principle of standing with the needy and the victims and the oppressed without discrimination between race, color, sex or religion.
Concluding, the Third Secretary of Qatar's Permanent Mission to the Office of the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva Abdullah Khalifa Al Suwaidi reiterated Qatar's continued humanitarian commitment and continued support for the activities and programs of the UNHCR, as well as its commitment to continue cooperation and partnership within the international community to meet the humanitarian and development challenges.