Qatar Charity and Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD) signed, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Turkey’s capital Ankara to enhance coordination and cooperation between the two sides in the fields of humanitarian work.
The agreement was signed by His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani, Minister of State and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Qatar Charity, and His Excellency Süleyman Soylu, Minister of Interior of Turkey, in the presence of the Turkish Deputy Interior Minister Ismail Çatakli and Qatar’s ambassador to Turkey His Excellency Mohammed bin Nasser Al Thani and Qatar Charity’s CEO Mr. Youssef bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, and AFAD’s head Mr. Yunus Sezer.
The current MoU, which is a continuation of the MoU signed in 2016 between the two parties, aims to continue cooperation between them with the need to strengthen disaster and emergency management and humanitarian assistance systems, build a strategic partnership between the two sides, and take advantage of their respective synergies in their humanitarian missions. The current MoU will be in force for three years.
After signing the MoU, His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani, Minister of State and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Qatar Charity, thanked Turkey’s government and relevant institutions for facilitating Qatar Charity’s humanitarian work, whether in Turkey and or in Syria. He also noted that they were an important factor in the successes achieved by Qatar Charity through its office, and 14 million Syrian IDPs and refugees have benefited from its projects.
His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani appreciated the role of Turkey’s government and people in helping Syrian people and hosting millions of refugees, He noted the continuous and fruitful cooperation with Turkey’s AFAD, indicating that it will continue and be strengthened in several areas, hoping that it will be greater and broader in the coming years.
For his part, His Excellency Süleyman Soylu, Minister of Interior of Turkey, praised Qatar’s role in the urgent response to disasters and crises, the Qatari support for humanitarian causes around the world, and its standing during the last year’s summer fire in Turkey. He applauded Qatar Charity's efforts to provide aid, support IDPs in northern Syria, and educate Syrian children in Turkey.
The Minister of Interior expressed his happiness with the renewal of the agreement between Qatar Charity and AFAD, hoping that the partnership between the two sides would be strengthened to implement qualitative projects in the humanitarian fields.
During his visits to Turkey, His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani, Minister of State and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Qatar Charity, met with the Governor of Ankara, Mr. Vasip Sahin. During the meeting, he thanked the governor for supporting Qatar Charity's activities, while the governor affirmed his readiness to provide the necessary facilities for Qatar Charity’s future projects.
His Excellency Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani, Minister of State and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Qatar Charity, also visited Qatar Charity’s office in Ankara and was acquainted with its significant achievements and humanitarian interventions in Turkey and Syria, and its most important partnerships with international organizations from the opening of its office in 2016 to date.
It is worth mentioning that Qatar Charity has made great efforts in providing relief aid to the Syrian people since the start of the crisis in 2011. The efforts became broader after the opening of Qatar Charity’s office in Turkey in 2016, and will further be strengthened by partnering with the relevant Turkish bodies and UN organizations.
Source: Qatar Charity