File photo of relief aid - including shelter and nonfood items, hygiene kits and water -- being provided to Rohingya refugees.
Qatar has contributed $4.5bn to international aid to more than 100 countries in the world from 2012 to mid 2017.
Sharing details of “Qatar government’s commitment to international aid”, the Government Communication Office of the State of Qatar yesterday revealed on its twitter account that between 2012 to mid 2017 Qatar donated $4.5bn in aid to more than 100 countries in the world.
The figures indicate that $2.9bn was provided by the government while $1.6bn was provided by Qatari NGOs. Relief, infrastructure and education are the sectors mostly targeted by the Qatar’s aid while Africa, Middle East and Asia are the regions receiving more aid.
Another post shared on GCO’s twitter account, “Qatar’s partnership with UN agencies and international civil society organisations”, reveals that from 2013 to September 2017, Qatar’s commitment to UN agencies and international organisations totaled $251.54m, of which $111m was disbursed.
Through its five year strategy for 2016 to 2020, Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) will increase grants to UN agencies by more than 20% of the total government aid it receives, the GCO said.
In 2013, Qatar donated $4.58m to support Unesco’s projects in Iraq. The grant was fully disbursed. Qatar also supported the Global Green Growth Initiative with $10m in 2013. This grant was also fully disbursed.
In 2014, Qatar funded the Early Recovery Programme for Development in Sudan in partnership with UNDP with $88.5m, of which around $59m was disbursed. Same year, Qatar also covered the costs of UNRWA’s education projects in Palestine with $5m, of which $4m was disbursed. In 2014 also, Qatar funded the United Nations Joint Fund for Humanitarian Funds in Turkey with $20m. The grant was fully disbursed.
Qatar in 2015 funded Unesco’s Emergency Preparedness and Response Programme with $10m, of which $2m was disbursed. In the same year, Qatar supported GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance, with $10m, of which $6m was disbursed.
In 2016, Qatar supported the Lives and Livelihoods Fund by donating $50m, of which $9.74m was disbursed.
In 2016, Qatar also supported the Global Fund with a donation of $10m to combat communicable diseases such as AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, of which $3.3m was disbursed. In the same year, Qatar supported OCHA’s projects in Syria with a donation $5m. The grant was fully disbursed.
Qatar in 2017 supported GCERF with a $5m donation, of which $2m was disbursed. In 2017, Qatar also supported OCHA with a $40m donation, of which $5m was disbursed. Current year, Qatar also supported UNCERF with $1m.
The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in his address to 72nd session of UNGA September 19 had said that within the framework of the international efforts to tackle the humanitarian crises, the State of Qatar has continued to contribute to the growing humanitarian needs in the world.
“We have increased our financial contributions to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) to enable the United Nations to implement UN programs and provide humanitarian relief to those in need worldwide. Today the State of Qatar ranks third on the list of major donors in 2017 to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,” the Emir added.
“We have continued to provide support to countries facing challenges to help them implement their development plans. It is worth mentioning here that the State of Qatar ranked first in the Arab world and 33rd in the world in the field of human development. This proves the effectiveness of our humanitarian and development policy. We look forward to achieving the goals of the United Nations Plan for Sustainable Development, which we have all committed to realize,” the Emir said.
