Doha: Qatar during 2012, was able to extend assistance (government and non-governmental aid) worth QR3,001,764,025 to almost 100 countries spread across all the continents, a foreign aid report prepared by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. A quick glance at the figures shows that, over the years, the country has considerably enhanced the geographical, sector-wise and field-wise scope of its foreign aid. The aid extended by Qatar has been channelled in the form of grants (whether financial, in kind or technical in nature), and support for developmental and humanitarian projects and programmes.
The magnitude of the aid offered by Qatar is a clear reflection of the vision of the Qatari leadership to reduce the suffering of victims and also achieve and support global partnerships for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in countries around the world. The state is actively engaging in both qualitative and quantitative investments in a wide range of humanitarian and developmental sectors.
It added that Qatar’s increasing focus on such global initiatives is reflective of the enhanced emphasis placed on international cooperation by Qatar National Vision 2030. Accordingly, assistance to other countries had grown to be recognised as an integral part of the country’s foreign policy outlook.
Over the last few decades, Qatar has demonstrated its unwavering commitment towards achieving international peace and security by actively partaking a wide range of political, developmental and humanitarian initiatives in various countries around the world. Whenever there has been a call by the global community in the wake of any natural disaster or in pursuit of any developmental goals the country has quickly and efficiently responded to it.
During 2012, Qatar undertook a number of initiatives, including distinguished projects in a number of countries such as Tunisia, Japan, Gaza in Palestine and Darfur in Sudan, the report said.
The Qatari approach was able to devise mechanisms such as funds, in bilateral format. Also Qatar established re-construction committees (eg Gaza Re-Construction Committee) under the supervision of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The report outlines absolute transparency and accuracy, demonstrated by statistical tables, charts and graphs, that provide a detailed insight into the foreign aid provided by the Country to a wide range of humanitarian and developmental sectors in various countries around the world, is a key objective of this report.
This report also aims to assist in enhancing the effectiveness of the aid provided by evaluating both governmental and non-governmental aid according to international standards and criteria.
The information provided in this report will guide the decision makers of the country in ensuring that the external aid provided contributes many folds towards international cooperation and humanitarian solidarity in line with the guidelines laid down by Qatar National Vision 2030, in addition to achieving the strategic goals of the Country’s foreign policy.
External assistance provided by both the government and the citizens and residents of Qatar to citizens and countries around globe, through official donor bodies, charitable associations and institutions, and humanitarian organizations, for an integral part of this report.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Dr Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah underlined that Qatar is well aware of the increasing risks or crises, food shortages, and challenges of climate change, natural disasters and conflicts that all come together in a time of the tightening effects of the international economic crisis that makes it harder to deliver on international commitments.
The Minister said Qatar foreign aid was delivered to around 100 countries around the globe. Qatari humanitarian aid and developmental assistance have bridged an important gap and have opened a life-saving channel to support and reach out to other countries and people of the world.
He added that disaster response and management is based essentially on the adoption of ‘the right to protection from disasters’. This requires preventive measures, policies, high levels of preparedness and resilience capacity building to cope with disaster prone conditions.
The Minister said that Qatar highly appreciates global partnerships in international development which stands as the eight goal of the UN Millennium Development Goals to be achieved by the end of 2015. Qatar is already engaged in the process of setting new goals for global development by redefining it as ‘goals of sustainable development’.
The Peninsula
