Qatar announces $50 million in aid for Gaza

(Patria) - The State of Qatar has pledged to provide $50 million as an initial aid package for the Gaza Strip, in response to the growing humanitarian crisis in the occupied Palestinian territories, which have been under Israeli forces' attacks since October 7.

Significant support for Palestinians at the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva on Wednesday, December 13, was announced by Lolwah Al-Khater, Qatar's Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reported the Qatari state news agency QNA.

These funds will be directed to assist refugees, the wounded, orphans, and others who have been affected by the aggression on Gaza, as stated.

At the event organized by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Gulf country also promised to provide 100 scholarships for young Palestinians to continue their studies in Doha, through the "Education Above All" Foundation program, headed by Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, the mother of the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

At the beginning of this month, precisely by order of Emir Al Thani, official Doha announced its commitment to care for 3,000 orphans from Gaza, and to assist in the treatment of 1,500 wounded individuals, some of whom have already been transferred to Doha.

Minister Al Khater emphasized the importance of finding a "just and lasting solution" for the 5.9 million registered Palestinian refugees displaced from their homes since 1948, adding that the current "war against civilians and children in Gaza" constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law and human rights in general.

Before the international public, she recalled that these actions specifically violate the Geneva Convention (IV), which prohibits collective punishment, as well as the Hague Regulations, which call for the protection of civilians, emphasizing that two additional protocols to the Geneva Conventions prohibit indiscriminate attacks on the civilian population.

- According to the Rome Statute, these attacks constitute genocide against the indigenous Palestinian population, crimes against humanity, as well as (other) war crimes - said Al-Khater.

This war, she added, has led to the killing of more than 18,000 people, over 70% of whom were women and children. Also, 49,000 people have been injured, and 1.9 million displaced.

The high-ranking Qatari official confirmed that in the period between 2014 and 2022, Qatar's support for refugees and UNHCR reached more than $670 million.

In addition to the aforementioned support for Palestinians, Doha also recently announced $100 million for Ukraine, including Ukrainian refugees.

An allocation of $50 million has also been pledged for Sudan, including $10 million for Sudanese refugees.

Qatar has also facilitated the safe evacuation of over 130,000 Afghan refugees since 2021, and pledged $75 million to support the Afghan people.

The allocation of an additional $75 million for Syrian refugees has also been confirmed, bringing the total amount of the Gulf country's support for refugees from Syria to over two billion dollars.