Thank you Qatar: $350 mn for Somali Emergency!

[Abu-Salman]

Badly needed for the sake of our future generation, this latest Qatari sign of Friendship should be greatly saluted as it will litteraly metamorphose Somali children stunted by famine and malady; while not forgetting the tireless efforts of pres Guelleh, Sh Sharif's administration as well as our other Arab & Islamic brothers crucial generosity in every sector (KSA*, UAE, Turkey etc):

 

 

$350mn aid for Somalia

 

 

Doha: Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) will offer $350mn for the displaced people in Somalia.

 

The two sides launched a humanitarian appeal last month to collect $2mn for the implementation of a two-year programme to support health institutions in Mogadishu and provide medical assistance.

The humanitarian programme, sponsored by the QRC and the IDB, aims to improve the access of Somali citizens to health care services and treating war-wounded civilians, with a focus on the most vulnerable groups, especially women, children and displaced persons.

 

The programme will focus on the dispatch of medical teams, specialists and surgeons in Somalia, the training of medical and health sector workers, the rehabilitation of sections of a Mogadishu’s hospital “The City” and the establishment of mobile medical centers.

 

On the occasion, the two sides called on all humanitarian institutions, companies, businessmen and individuals to support the program and provide the remaining amount of $650.000 to cover the urgent humanitarian appeal. - QNA

 

 

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*GULF: Saudi donation closes WFP funding gap

 

DUBAI, 28 May 2008 (IRIN) - Saudi Arabia has donated US$500 million to the World Food Programme (WFP), enabling the UN agency to close the gap on its funding appeal.

 

"It [the donation] came at the right time and in the right place … This is a great case of how working together can allow the international community to address critical developmental and humanitarian problems. The Kingdom [of Saudi Arabia] has set an incredible example that I hope all countries will follow, especially in the Middle East, and will bring new donors to the multilateral effort," Abdul Aziz Muhammad Arrukban, special humanitarian envoy of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, told IRIN from Riyad on 28 May.

 

"I look forward to seeing the Kingdom and all GCC [Gulf Cooperation Council] countries becoming an integral part of the global, multilateral work and taking the lead among the donor group", Arrukban said.

 

WFP announced on 23 May that it had met its extraordinary call for $755 million to compensate for the increased costs of food and fuel with a $500 million donation from Saudi Arabia.

 

Thirty-one countries have donated a collective $460 million to the $755 million appeal, plus the Saudi donation, WFP said in a statement.

 

That leaves an additional U$214 million available for other urgent hunger needs. Six months into the year, WFP's budget to feed millions of people in 2008 stands at $4.5 billion, of which $2 billion has been received (including the recent Saudi pledge), WFP said.

 

"Saudi Arabia has been a donor to WFP for a long time. In 2005 and 2006, they donated close to 60 million [uS dollars] to WFP," Arrukban said.

 

As of 25 May, Saudi Arabia is the second largest WFP donor after the US. Washington has contributed $566,810,885 so far this year.

 

WFP's Executive Director Josette Sheeran has said the money will not only offset food and fuel costs, but will secure much-needed food for programmes throughout Africa and other parts of the world. In particular, WFP will be able to continue providing food for millions of children enrolled in school and therapeutic feeding programmes in Kenya, Yemen, Ethiopia and Somalia and in many other critical hunger zones.

[Haatu]

great news. Allah bless them

[N.O.R.F]

What a lot of critics and of Arab leaders don't see is the huge sums they donate each year towards charity.

[FatB]

id prefer they invest those funds into building infestructure for those countries instead of just feeding them

[N.O.R.F]

^True. But they need to see how it may benefit them.

[Paragon]

That's alotta dosh, man. Gimmie some?

[nuune]

Half of the money will go into adminstration salary for the workers of UN from all departments, the rest when divided into half would be gone to politicians, the tiny bit will be lost, and only small fraction will reach its destination!

[NGONGE]

^^ And it's not 350 Million. It is only TWO MILLION (650 coming from business people and donations). Still good stuff.