Qatar Red Crescent to provide $520,000 for Palestinians



May 23, 2008

Source ::: The Peninsula/ by Huda NV
Qatar Red Crescent Secretary General Dr Mohammed bin Ghanem Al Ali Al Maadheed and UN Relief and Works Agency Commissioner General Kare Koning AbuZayd at a ceremony to sign an aid agreement yesterday. (QASSIM RAHMATULLAH)
Doha • Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) signed an agreement with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian Refugees yesterday to provide $520,000 for medical and dental equipment.
The agreement was signed at the QRC head office here by QRC Secretary General Dr Mohammed bin Ghanem Al Ali Al Maadheed and UNRWA Commissioner General Kare Koning AbuZayd.
"QRC has made donations in cash and kind estimated at almost $1.5m since we began our partnership six months ago," said Kare Koning. The amount equals the largest donations to UNRWA's annual general fund by any Arab government in 2007.
The UNRWA is involved in helping the people of Gaza to get through their problems. "We want to remove suffering and give support to the people in the area," said Al Maadheed.
QRC's cooperation with UNRWA is aimed at eliminating problems related to distribution of aid, which it usually faces in the area. "We have about 19 healthcare centres in Gaza and about 7,000 doctors with us. We have got 100,000 applicants. But due to lack of funds we are unable to bring in at least 20,000 doctors, which we are in need of," said Kare Koning.
Restrictions enforced by the Israeli security forces in the area hinder the humanitarian works, he said. "We cannot do anything beyond healthcare and food support. They do not allow anything other than the most necessary and basic needs. The checks in the area make our work slow and at times insufficient," said Kare Koning while talking to The Peninsula.
"Israel's lack of support for the international law causes many difficulties in distribution of aid. The environment is hostile for giving aid and basic support," said Al Maadheed.
QRC has undertaken projects of up to QR5,124,162 with UNRWA in supporting refugee camps in Lebanon, Gaza, West Bank etc.

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