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Tribune News Network
Doha
The state-owned Qatar Fund for Development (QFD) has announced the allocation of $5 million to provide urgent humanitarian assistance through Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) for thousands of families returning to Sirte in Libya amid severe conditions on the ground.
The money will be used to secure the basic needs in relief and healthcare for six months, as well as water and sanitation for one year. This life-saving aid would help an estimated 79,400 people in the city.
As an active humanitarian organisation, QRCS has on-the-ground presence through its office in Tripoli. To ensure closer coordination, QRCS has agreed with the UN's Libya operations unit to integrate its intervention into the UN Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) for 2016-2017.
As the crisis erupted, $500,000 had been contributed by the QFD to the UN's humanitarian appeal on September 19, seeking to raise $10.7 million for covering the needs of Sirte people over four months (September through December 2016), with a special focus on medical supplies for seven health centres and Ibn Sina Central Hospital.
Over the coming period, $1,325,000 of QFD's contribution would cover medical consumables and equipment, staffing, and operational costs to enable the medical facilities to offer healthcare services.
Another $650,000 would go to the medical convoys operating in rural areas. Sheltering worth $1,061,193 would be provided for homeless families, while drinking water and hygiene kits would be secured for 90,000 people at a cost of $1,519,750.
To ensure quick delivery, all the relief items would be procured from Tunisia to avoid logistical inconveniences.
Khalifa bin Jassim al Kuwari, general manager of QFD, said,"This contribution will help the affected population in healthcare, water and sanitation, and other vital sectors. It is part of the humanitarian strategy adopted by Qatar to alleviate human suffering, as well as QFD's 2016 Humanitarian Response Plan, which includes relief for Fallujah and Syria".
Kuwari emphasised the strong and partnership between QFD and QRCS in numerous projects, building upon the latter's capacity as an internationally recognised humanitarian organisation mandated to reach out to crisis zones around the world.
Secretary-General of QRCS, Ali bin Hassan al Hammadi, said,"As a result of the unstable situation in Libya, many aspects of life there have deteriorated. The health facilities lack drugs, supplies, and medics. The water supply system has been damaged, and many people have lost their property and livelihood. With the voluntary return of people to Sirte, it is the duty of QRCS and other peers to act promptly and deliver humanitarian services in the city."
