The State of Qatar has renewed its commitment to provide the necessary support to the activities and programs of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR); To enable it to fully implement its mandate, expressing its aspiration to participate in the second Global Refugee Forum to be held in December 2023, and the preparatory meetings that will precede it.
This came in the statement of the State of Qatar delivered by HE Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations Office in Geneva Dr. Hind bint Abdul Rahman Al Muftah at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, during the general debate of the 73rd session of the Executive Committee of the High Commissioner for Refugees Program.
Her Excellency called for finding a just solution to the issue of more than 5.7 million Palestinian refugees on the basis of international law and relevant United Nations resolutions, and providing more support to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA); To enable it to carry out its mandate, and indicated that it occupies the 8th place among the list of donor countries to UNRWA, renewing its commitment to continue providing humanitarian support to all the Palestinian people.
Her Excellency pointed out that the increase in the number of forcibly displaced people as a result of conflicts, violence, persecution and human rights violations for the 10th year in a row requires the international community to urgently focus and work together, away from any political perspective to address the root causes of refugee and displacement situations, especially settling and ending conflicts and finding permanent and just solutions to them, improving ways to confront natural disasters and climate change crises, and providing appropriate, dignified and safe conditions in order to facilitate the return of refugees and displaced persons to their countries and regions, and that otherwise the world will witness more asylum and displacement waves, and a grave exacerbation of human suffering.
Her Excellency expressed concern that the lives of many refugees and their families are exposed to danger, death and exploitation on death journeys at sea in search of protection, safety and dignity.
Her Excellency stressed the need for the international community to redouble efforts to protect refugees and displaced persons, provide more humanitarian and development assistance, and support their host communities, to alleviate their suffering and improve their living conditions.
Her Excellency said that the State of Qatar and Qatari charitable and humanitarian institutions, based on their humanitarian duties and belief in the necessity of joint cooperation and strengthening international solidarity, were keen to strengthen and develop strategic partnerships and coordinate efforts with many international humanitarian organizations in order to support refugee issues in many parts of the world.
Her Excellency pointed to the multiplicity of aspects of support provided by the State of Qatar to refugees and the communities hosting them, which included protection, provision of humanitarian and medical assistance, implementation of relief and development projects, rehabilitation of vital and sports facilities, provision of educational opportunities for children, especially in conflict areas, and provision of job opportunities for young people and helping them to build their capacities and skills, as well as assisting refugees and displaced persons in many countries, including Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, Sudan, Chad, Kenya, Uganda and South Sudan, as well as refugee-receiving countries such as Jordan, Lebanon and Bangladesh.
Her Excellency drew attention to the prominent role played by the State of Qatar in evacuating and accommodating thousands of Afghan refugees who were expelled from Afghanistan and facilitating their travel to third countries. It also provided USD5 million in humanitarian aid to support Ukrainian refugees and displaced persons, based on its moral and humanitarian responsibility.
Her Excellency explained that the State of Qatar has strengthened its strategic partnership with UNHCR by opening an office in Doha; In order to facilitate coordination and cooperation between the two parties in various refugee issues, the volume of Qatari governmental and non-governmental contributions to UNHCR during the current year amounted to about USD30 million, and the State of Qatar was also keen on continuing its membership in the “Twenty Million and Over” club, which includes the most prominent donor and cooperating countries with the Commission.
Her Excellency pointed out that mediation has become a strategic option for the State of Qatar, and is considered a mainstay in its foreign policy, which enabled it to play successful mediation roles that resulted in ending and alleviating many conflicts and tensions, and reaching peaceful solutions, which contributed to limiting the waves of refugees and displaced persons.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs