Monday March 13, 2017
Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Foundation for Humanitarian Services (RAF) has earmarked QR2m to provide urgent humanitarian aid to the people fighting for survival due to drought in Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia.
“RAF has launched a campaign to collect donations QR5m initially to finance some urgent relief projects responding the calls from international humanitarian organisations to save the life of millions of people in drought hit countries of Africa,” said Dr Mohamad Salah Ibrahim, Deputy Director of RAF.
Ibrahim was speaking at a press conference held at the headquarters of RAF yesterday.
The projects will be implemented in collaboration with international humanitarian organisations and its local partners in the targeted countries.
“We approached to the local partners to begin the projects within few days,” said Ibrahim. “RAF implemented relief projects at a cost of QR24m in Somalia last year under its ongoing humanitarian projects in these countries.”
“The campaign entitled Kun Sababn Lilhayat (save a life) will focus on providing foods, health services and clean drinking water,” said Ahmad Yusuf Fakhro, Head of Financial Resources and Media Section of RAF.
As per the international report, the drought that hit the African countries threatened the life of 11 million people. Tens of thousands animals died and agricultural lands in big areas deserted. Millions of people were forced to displace from rural areas to cities.
In Somalia only, the life of 2.4 million people is being threatened. They need urgent humanitarian aid. More than 241,000 children in northern part of Somalia are battling for survival due to diseases and epidemics.
Under the urgent humanitarian aid of phase-I, the beneficiaries will be provided food basket containing basic foods like sugar, rice, flour, milk powder, edible oil, salt and dates. A basket will have enough items for a family comprising five to seven people for a month.