QRC urges people to ‘think of others’

Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) has launched their Ramadan charity programme under the theme “think of others to make the world happy.” Speaking at a press conference, Ahmed al-Kahtani  - manager of Financial Resource Development at QRC – said that Ramadan is the best time for people to remember the suffering of those in need during their fast, and that people have a duty not to forget them. People in Qatar will be able to donate to charity projects in Qatar and abroad including Ramadan programmes, long-term sustainability projects in other countries, social and medical projects and specialised paediatric programmes. Across Qatar there are 104 donation booths ready to accept offerings from the public, and special collections will be taken at 40 mosques. A hotline is also available to donate directly. Donors can call 9001501 to donate QR20 for iftar projects, 9001511 to donate QR25 to Al Quds Fund, and 9001504 to send QR30 to support the Sami al-Haj Hospital in Sudan. At all donation centres a list of charity projects is available for donors to choose from. A donor’s guide is also available, detailing QRC projects and fund-raising targets inside Qatar and out, such as QR2mn for a Patient’s Aid Fund. The Social Development Department of the QRC will supervise the raising of funds and distribution of charitable donations to 4,950 people in Qatar, with the hope of raising QR1,475,000 to pay for school supplies, food, Eid money and gifts and other worthy causes. According to Yousra Hammad Bagadi, acting head of Relief & International Development at Qatar Red Crescent, a target of QR1.5mn has been set to feed the fasting in countries chosen by the charity, often in “neglected countries where Muslim people are the minority, this year we are working in the Balkans, Pakistan, the Comoros Islands for the first time, Sudan, Darfur, we’re also trying to focus on the hot areas where civil unrest and disasters are hard to reach, and we try to be the first. “In the Horn of Africa we launched an appeal three days ago for $3.5mn and we are trying to make this money to help four major areas: first of all is food distribution, second is water, health would be our major intervention and nutrition. So we’re thinking to deploy a medical team composed of public health specialists, it would be a paediatrician and a generalist to go there and assist for a month. Our appeal is for six month to try and cover some of the most urgent needs. As we know the UN launched an appeal for $1.6bn dollars, only half of it has been covered by international donors, and we’re hoping we’re going to contribute to alleviating the suffering of the people of Somalia.” Bagadi also said that the Red Crescent has launched an appeal seeking QR4.24mn to support the Syrian Red Crescent, Lebanon Red Cross and Jordanian Red Crescent societies to help assist 25,000 people for three months. A separate appeal has been made for QR3.7mn in assistance for 20,000 people in Yemen. Both appeals are needed to cover the cost of medication, consumable items, equipment, food and other administrative costs. The Red Crescent will also be addressing the civil unrest in South Khordofan in Sudan soon, hoping to raise 1mn dollars to provide shelter and meet other basic needs.