Doha: Under a memorandum of understanding signed with World Food Programme (WFP), Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) has received 2.17 tonnes of medical and food items to control malnutrition and costs of moving assistance to the target region as part of relief efforts for Malian refugees who fled to Niger following political and military events in northern Mali.
The grant comprises 1.27 tonne of nutritional items and 0.13 tonne of natural oils for pregnant and breastfeeding women, 0.77 tonne of dietary supplements for malnourished children and 1,000 euros for transport and storage costs.
A total of 166 children, mothers and pregnant women in Tibareybarey Refugee Camp, Tillabéri Region, are expected to receive daily rations for six months.
QRC is assigned to store and manage the items, examine mothers and children for malnutrition, follow up with these cases through its medical centre at the camp and report on food conditions there.
The grant was given to QRC on recommendation of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) which has relief projects with QRC for the Malian refugees in Niger and reflects the trust of UN agencies in the professionalism of QRC staff there.
QRC and UNHCR have four agreements under which QRC operates three health centres that provide primary healthcare at refugee camps and as ambulance services to move serious cases to national hospitals or medical facilities.
There are more than 100 QRC medical and administrative staff. Due to the effective relief intervention by these teams, UNHCR chose QRC to be responsible for its health projects.
QRC’s West/Central Africa Office is coordinating with Nigerian authorities to provide administrative facilities and secure the camps.
Every day QRC’s healthcare workers cover diseased and critical cases, notably paediatric surgeries such as bladder stone removal, Caesarean sections that has saved hundreds of women with available ambulance vehicles and medical workers, discover and treat tuberculosis cases and distribute medicines to chronic patients.
The teams serve more than 30,000 Malians at refugee camps and over 74,000 people of adjacent local communities.
The Peninsula
