Officials take part in Qatar TV's telethon to raise funds for the victims of earthquake in Turkiye and Syria, yesterday.
Doha: A fundraising campaign ‘Oun w Sanad’ for those affected by the devastating earthquake in Turkiye and Syria raised over QR168m during an hours-long live transmission on Qatar TV yesterday.
Under the drive, many points for collecting cash and in-kind donations have also been set up at a number of places across the country, including Cultural Village Foundation - Katara, Souq Waqif and Aspire Zone Park.
The campaign has been organised by the Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities (RACA) in coordination with Qatar Media Corporation (QMC), Qatar Red Crescent (QRCS) and Qatar Charity (QC) for providing the necessary relief assistance such as shelter materials, food, health and hygiene materials to the victims.
A total of QR168,015,836 were raised in donations during the hours-long telethon. Donations were made by government institutions, individuals, banks and other businesses operating in the country. Major donors included General Endowment Department of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs which donated QR10m. Qatar National Bank (QNB) also gave QR10m.
Telecom operator Ooredoo and Doha Bank donated QR1m each. Donations also poured in from individual philanthropists. A child, Rawda bint Fahad, donated QR2m. Another individual, who wished to remain anonymous, gave QR1.5m.
Ambassador of Turkiye to Qatar, H E Dr. Mustafa Goksu, who also joined the telethon and donated QR10,000, thanked the government and the people of Qatar for their generous support to the earthquake-affected people in Turkiye and Syria.
Ambassador of Turkiye to Qatar, H E Dr. Mustafa Goksu, takes part in the Qatar TV telethon yesterday.
“I would like to thank QMC, Qatar TV and other organisations for organising this fundraising campaign, which is very valuable for us,” said the Ambassador.
He said Turkish people will be overwhelmed to see that the people in Qatar stand with them in this tough time, which is more valuable than any amount of money.
“Responding immediately to the earthquake, first air-bridge between Doha and Istanbul was established for dispatching relief aid materials.” Over 12 flights have delivered relief aid provided by Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD), QRCS, QC and other organisations through the air bridge so far, he said.
Speaking about the most needed relief materials at this time, the Ambassador said: “People in earthquake-hit areas need blankets, heaters, generators, portable toilets, which are needed the most and those materials which are required for building makeshift homes for hapless people.”
He also announced that Turkish Embassy in Doha in coordination with Regulatory Authority for Charitable Activities will start collecting cash and in-kind donations from today (Saturday).
The fundraising campaign also hosted representatives from RACA, QRCS and charity organisations who shared their efforts for collecting donations and dispatching relief aid for people in Turkiye and Syria.
Religious scholars were also invited in the campaign to encourage people in Qatar — citizens and expatriates — to extend their helping hands to the victims.
Ali Abdullah Al Ansari, Adviser to the Office of the Director General of RACA, said the authority is coordinating with entities which are participating in providing the support.
“It is facilitating transfer of donations to the affected areas through official channels safely.” He said RACA is also ensuring the delivery of donations and relief materials to the targeted people as soon as possible. “Today, we launched this fundraising campaign in coordination with QMC, QRCS and QC.”
Dr. Mohamed Salah Ibrahim, Director of the Relief and International Development Sector at QRCS, said: “Responding immediately to provide relief aid to affectees, we began distributing urgent aid from our reserve stock with our mission in Turkiye.”
Unfortunately, he said, our representative mission in Turkiye lost a number of field cadres working inside Syria during the earthquake.
Mohammed Rashid Al Marri, Director of Communication and Public Relations at QRCS, said: “Thursday, five trucks carrying relief aid and dispatched by QRCS entered northern Syria, and we immediately began distributing relief aid to those affected.”
Meanwhile, rescuers continued working across the affected areas in Turkiye and Syria yesterday. Officials and medics said 19,388 people had died in Turkiye and 3,377 in Syria. The confirmed total now stands at 22,765, according to AFP.
