Qatar announces $50 million contribution to support the Syrian people

The State of Qatar announced a $50 million contribution to support the Syrian people. This came in the speech of the State of Qatar delivered by HE Assistant Foreign Minister for Regional Affairs Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulaziz bin Saleh Al Khulaifi at the Sixth Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region, organized by the European Union in Brussels. His Excellency the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Regional Affairs indicated that holding this conference at the present time is evidence of the international community's determination to continue supporting the Syrian people and alleviating the human tragedy with the Syrian crisis entering its 11th year, and with the continued deterioration of social and economic conditions in Syria, which in turn negatively affects Syria and the neighboring countries, in addition to threatening international peace and security. His Excellency reiterated the State of Qatar's firm position of supporting international efforts aimed at ending the Syrian crisis, by reaching a resolution in accordance with the Geneva 1 statement, implementing Security Council Resolution 2254 with all its elements, and supporting the efforts of the United Nations Special Envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen in pursuit of achieving the aspirations of the Syrian people for security, stability, and sovereignty of Syria. He added that Qatar reiterated accountability and preventing impunity as two key elements to prevent wars against humanity. His Excellency noted the State of Qatar's commitment since the beginning of the crisis to provide humanitarian and relief assistance to the Syrian people, based on its firm belief in their right to a decent life. He noted that, since the beginning of the crisis, Qatari aid to the Syrians has exceeded $ 2 billion, whether through government aid or through community organizations Civil society, humanitarian and charitable societies, and Qatari donor institutions. He also discussed a number of Qatari initiatives that supported Syrian refugees, such as Education Above All's Educate a Child initiative that supported 600,000 Syrian refugee students in their right to pursue education. He added that the initiative aims to reach 1.1 million Syrian children. He also noted that Qatar Charity, in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, launched an aid package for Syrian refugees, amounting to about $1.5 million. He also mentioned Qatar Fund for Development's Syrian education program, which benefits schools and students in the Northwest of Syria. The program is carried out in cooperation with the UK Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs. HE the Assistant Foreign Minister for Regional Affairs expressed his hope that the conference would result in raising financial aid that would benefit Syrian refugees and displaced persons, and that the multiplicity of humanitarian crises would not affect the pledges made. His Excellency thanked the European Union for its invitation to hold the conference, and also thanked the participating countries for their efforts to support the brotherly Syrian people to confront this humanitarian crisis that Syria has been witnessing for years.