Qatar Pledges USD 50 Million to Support Humanitarian Response Efforts in Sudan

Amiri Diwan

HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani announced that the State of Qatar pledged to provide USD 50 million to support efforts of humanitarian response plan in Sudan and the regional plan for refugees, stemming from Qatar's fraternal responsibility, and moral and humanitarian duty towards brothers in Sudan and in continuation of its constant humanitarian and development efforts in the sisterly Sudan.

This came during the speech of the State of Qatar delivered by His Excellency via video conferencing on Monday during the high-level pledging conference to support the humanitarian response in Sudan and the region co-chaired by the State of Qatar along with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Arab Republic of Egypt, the Federal Republic of Germany, the United Nations, represented by the Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the European Union, alongside the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, with the participation of HH the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah Al-Saud, HE Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt Sameh Shoukry, HE Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany Annalena Baerbock, HE Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres, HE European Union Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic, HE Director of Health and Humanitarian Affairs at the African Union (AU) Commission Julio Rakotonirina, HE Under Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths, and HE the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, as well as representatives of the Republic of Sudan, governments of host countries of refugees, civil society and first responders.

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs reaffirmed that the State of Qatar will spare no effort in standing by the brotherly Sudanese people until they overcome this crisis, asserting that the consolidated and firm position of the State of Qatar is to support unity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the sisterly Sudan and reject any forms of meddling in Sudan's internal affairs and full respect of its people's options in freedom, peace, justice and prosperity.

In this context, His Excellency praised the regional and international efforts, especially the joint Saudi-US mediation that achieved multiple humanitarian armistices, lauding the efforts and endeavors being made by African Union and IGAD, calling for coordination among these efforts and endeavors, emphasizing that coordination in this file exists between the State of Qatar and Arab Republic of Egypt with which Qatar aspires to closely work.

His Excellency confirmed that there is no military solution for this conflict and the only way is through political solution, reiterating the State of Qatar's call on the two parties to the conflict to stop fighting immediately, uphold the public interest of the brotherly Sudanese people, favor dialogue and peaceful means to end the crisis, establish a climate conducive to dialogue and peaceful solution for the conflict, adhere to international humanitarian law and international human rights law which compel all to protect civilians, media and civil institutions and secure access of humanitarian aid to the needy people everywhere without discrimination and with a complete impartiality in accordance with the known international humanitarian principles and standards.

His Excellency said the State of Qatar's moral and humanitarian obligation necessitates full solidarity with the brotherly Sudanese people in overcoming the consequences and challenges Sudan is facing, pointing out that the State of Qatar always stands by its brothers in Sudan and its humanitarian and development efforts have been continuing, along with its efforts related to stability and peace in Sudan, adding that Doha agreement for peace in Darfur that was signed in 2011 had been at the forefront of these efforts.

HE Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs added that since the breakout of the current armed conflict and the consequent humanitarian crisis, the State of Qatar has taken the initiative to stand by the Sudanese brothers through operating an air bridge to deliver about 318 tons of aid until the date of last plane that delivered aid which included medicines and cloths at a cost of over USD 4 million, in addition to evacuating 1784 people through the efforts of some institutions in the State of Qatar, namely: Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Public Health, Qatar Fund for Development, Qatar Charity, and Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS).

His Excellency thanked the International Committee of the Red Cross for its efforts, praising Qatar's partnership with this committee in this crucial file.

He pointed out that the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Sudan requires an urgent response and ample funding to bridge the funding gap in the humanitarian response plan for Sudan and the regional plan for refugees. Therefore, it is essential to provide ample pledges and donations to simultaneously fulfil them as soon as possible to entirely counter and contain the crisis and curb its potential spillover into Sudans neighborhood.

His Excellency said today's meeting constitutes a landmark event where eyes of brothers in Sudan are directed to this meeting, therefore, a solidarity message is sent to them from the meeting's platform to confirm that everyone stands by them.

HE the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs called on regional and international partners to provide essential donations and financial contributions to mitigate the serious consequences suffered by those affected by the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Sudan.

His Excellency thanked the sisterly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, sisterly Arab Republic of Egypt, international partners, and UN agencies for their efforts in responding to the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in the sisterly Sudan, expressing the State of Qatar's pride in patronizing this conference.

(QNA)