‘FIFA Qatar 2022 for All’ initiative wins global praise
The ‘FIFA Qatar 2022 for All: Sharing the Joy of Refugees and Displaced Persons’ initiative launched by Qatar has been praised by governmental and local authorities in many countries where Qatar Charity (QC) is supervising its implementation in co-operation with its partners.
The initiative, launched in conjunction with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, aims to share the joy with refugees and the displaced inside the camps and allow them to watch the matches and enjoy the various World Cup activities in the camps of six countries: Jordan, Bangladesh, Sudan, Somalia, (northern) Syria and Kenya.
Somalia
In the Shbilli camp, the largest camp for the displaced in Somalia, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports and Youth in Najal region, Saeed Hassan, shared with the displaced the joy of inaugurating the fans’ area. On the sidelines of his participation, he said: “We came here to share the joy of the displaced and refugees watching the World Cup, and I hope that this event will be a starting point for social cohesion and cohesion among the camp’s residents,” he said adding “holding this great event in Qatar is a source of pride for Muslims and Arabs.”
Abdul Karim Adam Hussein, Social Affairs officer at the Municipality of Jarowi, said: “This event contributes to improving the psychological state of the drought-affected displaced people in the local community, and enhancing social care for them throughout the event, which lasts an entire month.”
Syria
In northern Syria, fans’ areas at Al-Kaiba camp in the Al-Rai area had a remarkable presence of the displaced, with the participation of the Turkish Disaster and Emergency Management co-ordinator (AFAD) for the city of Al-Rai, Niazi Demir, who expressed his thanks to Qatar and QC for this initiative. He said, “This tent has a great impact, as more than 2,000 people live in the camp, who are unable to participate or hold any social event. Thanks to Qatar, and this tent, this camp has become a special place to watch and enjoy the events of the 2022 World Cup.”
Bangladesh
At the Bhasan Char camp, more than 6,000 Rohingya refugees, in addition to orphaned children sponsored by Qatar Charity in Bangladesh, enjoyed watching the 2022 FIFA World Cup matches. The opening ceremony of the fans’ area in Bhasan Char camp was attended by many camp officials who expressed gratitude to Qatar and QC. Tariq al-Islam, a government official in the camp, said: “The effort of Qatar Charity and other organisations is commendable, and I hope the refugees will enjoy the event.”
Darfur. Sudan
In Darfur, the fan zones were inaugurated in a sporting and cultural atmosphere with the participation of the displaced from camps (Abu Shouk, Zamzam
and Abuja), in the presence of the Minister of Youth and Sports and several government officials in Darfur.
Tajuddin Ibrahim al-Taher, commissioner for Voluntary Return and Resettlement in the Darfur states, thanked Qatar for the initiative and described the establishment of areas for fans as a brilliant gesture by the organisers. He said it will have a great impact on displaced and citizens of North Darfur.
In addition to Qatar Charity, several entities – the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar Fund for Development, Qatar Red Crescent Society, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, and beIN Sports – are participating in the organisation of the ‘FIFA Qatar 2022 for All: Sharing the Joy of Refugees and Displaced’ initiative.