HE Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to the State of Qatar Ahmed Mohsen affirmed that the strong and established partnership between the State of Qatar, its various institutions, and UNHCR, represents a beacon of hope for millions of refugees and internally displaced persons around the globe.
In an exclusive interview with Qatar News Agency , Mohsen expressed his hope for the continuation of this partnership that embodies a distinguished model of stable partnerships, to help refugees and forcibly displaced persons most in need around the globe, pointing out Qatar’s generous contributions to support UNHCR programs over the years. These contributions amounted to about one billion and QR 400 million, which helped provide education, health care, shelter, and promote economic development for millions of people around the globe, he added.
He noted that the State of Qatar’s contributions particularly focus on the sectors of education, shelter, health care, livelihood opportunities and material support, enabling it to provide a sustainable humanitarian response in various regions, especially in the Middle East, North Africa, Asia and the Pacific.
Qatar cooperates with UNHCR in implementing various projects that benefit hundreds of thousands of people most in need, including Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon, Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, and internally displaced people in Iraq, Yemen, Afghanistan, and many other countries, Mohsen added.
The State of Qatar has been at the forefront of donor countries to UNHCR since 2019 through its generous contributions to support UNHCR’s efforts and initiatives aimed at responding to the humanitarian needs of communities suffering from asylum and forced displacement, he said, noting the establishment of the UN House in Doha, which hosts the offices of several UN agencies, including the Office of UNHCR, as part of Qatar’s continued support for the programs and initiatives of UN and its various agencies.
He stressed that the State of Qatar has continued its strong support over the years for diplomatic and humanitarian efforts in Afghanistan, especially its support for Afghan refugees and the countries hosting them, which culminated in its recent assumption of the presidency of the Solutions Strategy for Afghan Refugees Support Platform (SSAR). SSAR constitutes a platform to support voluntary repatriation and sustainable reintegration, provide support to host communities and promote peaceful coexistence among them, he explained.
He noted that Qatar continues to stress the importance of strengthening regional initiatives that alleviate human suffering and facilitate policies and cooperative approaches aimed at facilitating the voluntary, safe, sustainable and dignified return of refugees and their integration into their countries of origin.
UNHCR Representative to Qatar commended the State of Qatar’s humanitarian efforts during the Afghan crisis in 2021 and its keenness to transport humanitarian aid by air and deliver tons of emergency supplies to support the most vulnerable displaced families in Afghanistan, pointing out that these efforts have supported UNHCR’s programs and missions in Afghanistan to help vulnerable Afghans adapt to the harsh conditions of winter.
Mohsen also said that Qatar continues to support UNHCR’s efforts in Afghanistan, noting that the total Qatari contributions to support the situation in Afghanistan have reached more than USD 5.6 million through supporting education for refugees and internally displaced persons, in-kind donations, flights, humanitarian aid and non-food items, in addition to supporting UNHCR’s efforts to provide financial assistance to many returning refugee families who are most in need. (MORE)
Source: Qatar News Agency