Qatar takes part in meet on global aid to Palestinians
Qatar yesterday participated through video conference in the ministerial meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee to co-ordinate international assistance to the Palestinian people.
Qatar was represented in the meeting by HE the Assistant Foreign Minister and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lolwah bint Rashid AlKhater.
HE AlKhater said in her speech at the meeting that the international community stands today as a silent witness to the plight of the Palestinian people while the Israeli occupation and the siege of the Gaza Strip and Israeli settlement activity in occupied Jerusalem and the West Bank continue without any signs of retreat, even in light of the overwhelming impact of the outbreak Covid-19 pandemic among the Palestinian people. The pandemic has affected nearly half the Palestinian population who need humanitarian aid, she said.
She praised the efforts of international partners in trying to provide medical assistance to the Palestinian territories, and pointed out the continuation of the repressive measures of the Israeli authorities and the prevention of shipments of vital vaccines from reaching the occupied Palestinian territories, thus exacerbating the dire conditions caused by the pandemic. She said such actions, without a doubt, are a flagrant violation of the charters and principles of international law, and constitute a serious crime against humanity.
She said Qatar underscores that the Palestinian people, like all peoples, have the basic right to life and health, and that the repressive actions taken by Israel hinder the efforts of negotiations and dialogue.
She stressed that the world must not remain silent in the face of the injustice committed against the Palestinian people and the continued deterioration of the social, economic and health conditions in Palestine, which are likely to reach catastrophic levels, leading to a humanitarian disaster that the global community will not bear and will not be prepared to endure.
HE AlKhater affirmed that Qatar stands to support its brothers in Palestine and said Qatar will spare no effort in working to alleviate the hardships faced by the Palestinian people, as the aid provided focused on urgent needs, in addition to longterm development projects that amounted to more than $1.5bn during the past eight years.
She affirmed Qatar’s commitment to close co-operation with international agencies, as Doha contributed to the support of the UNRWA with more than $106mn from 2014-2020.
She pointed out that as part of the state’s efforts that focus on helping lift the burden of the pandemic off Palestinian brothers, Qatar has provided $150mn in urgent aid to the Palestinian health sector, including $1mn to combat the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic and to provide medical supplies and equipment.