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Qatar Charity, UNHCR sign partnership agreement

Doha, March 3, 2009 - Qatar Charity yesterday signed a tripartite agreement with Islamic Development Bank(al-Aqsa Fund) and the United Nations Development Program to support the poor families in Palestine with a total amount of $ 4.500.000. In the same context, Mr. Hammad 'Abdul Qader al-Sheikh, the General Manager of Munazamat al-Da'wah al-Islamiya, delivered a check to the Vice-Chairman of Qatar Charity's Board of Directors, Mr. 'Abdullah Husain al-Ni'mah, and signed the contract of the planned relief project to be executed in the near future.

Qatar Charity and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Yemen signed a partnership agreement last Sunday, 22 February, 2009 in favor of Somali refugees in Yemen. According to this agreement, the programs of the UNHCR will support the new refugees, coming between March and November, with $250.000. The agreement was signed by Klera Borjwa for UNHCR and Dr. 'Abdul Wahab al-Musleh for Qatar Charity.

He explained that: "Some 13000 persons will benefit from this agreement in Mefa'ah, Ahwar and Kharz Camps."

On her part, UNHCR representative praised the Charity's efforts saying: "We look forward to more comprehensive cooperation and partnerships to cover other areas and fields."

Dr. al-Musleh stated that: "Our support will cover the refugees' need of blankets, clothes, shoes and so on, while the UNHCR will provide tents and manage Kharz administration."

Furthermore, "A number of agencies and organizations such as WFP (providing food), Care (for housing), Adra (for small business),SHS ,CSSW (for healthcare) will cooperate with the Charity. The project will provide the old, women and children with their basic needs. Some 3700 women and 3000 children will benefit from the project."

It is worth mentioning that the agreement has come into being after coordinative efforts and consultations between the two parties, in addition to field visits to the refugees' camps in Yemen.

According to 1951 pact, some 143000 Ethiopian and Somali refugees left their countries to live in Yemen due to drought. This, in turn, has led to food crisis in the area. The refugees prefer to live in city dwellings in Eden (14000 persons),in Kharz Camp(12000 persons) ,while others live in the midst of Yemeni dwelling areas. The refugees enter Yemen via Abian and Shabwah cities where they are enrolled to receive their basic needs of life. Then, they are transferred to Kharz if they long for long residence via UNHCR programs.