2 Qatari champions to climb mount kilimanjaro

Two Qatari diving champions, volunteers of Qatar Charity (QC), are set to climb Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest mountain in Africa, in an effort to increase awareness of the famine that threatens millions of people in West Africa. The expedition of Fahad Mohamed Salem al-Buainain and Talal Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman Kamal al-Emadi is scheduled to start on March 16 and will be the first of its kind carried out by Qatari youth, the Qatari daily (Gulf Times) reported. Both adventurers have trained for the climb and are fully prepared for the personal challenges that await them, and particularly the physical demands of climbing such a high peak. Al-Buainain is a famous national diver, and an internationally certified diving assistant coach. Before going on to their expedition, al-Buainain and al-Emadi will visit the Republic of Niger to see first-hand the conditions in that particular region of Africa and to document, using video, the human suffering of those affected by famine caused by drought and food shortages. The pair will also promote some humanitarian projects that will alleviate suffering. Qatar Charity CEO Youssef Ahmed al-Kuwari is proud of these two Qatari adventurers. "We thank Fahad al-Buainain and Talal al-Emadi, our two Qatari volunteers, for this unique initiative, which will have a significant impact in raising the awareness of an urgent humanitarian mission. We also thank Barwa Bank for sponsoring this expedition and for its constructive participation in this humanitarian field," he said. "QC encourages all volunteers from Qatari youth to do any effort that would highlight any disaster or famine, or assist in any humanitarian effort," al-Kuwari added. "This crisis, in particular, requires concerted efforts in order to prevent an imminent disaster due to lack of food, medicine, drinking water, and essentials of life in Niger and other African countries." The African Coast, or "African Sahel", is suffering a severe drought and food crisis. More than 10 million people, half of them in Niger, face a severe shortage of food, and the same is true for people in Mali, Chad and Mauritania. There are also more than a million children under the age of five who are at risk of severe malnutrition. That is in addition to displacement of more than 124 Malians because of current fights between government forces and the Tuareg Front. In these regions, "Hunger Season" usually starts in May/June until September, and this year it is expected to start within weeks due to a poor harvest.