Mr. Misfer bin Hamad Al Shahwani, Deputy General Manager for Projects Development in QFFD, and Amin Awad, UNHCR Director for the Middle East and North Africa Bureau, and Regional Refugee Coordinator for the for the Syria and Iraq situations during the signing ceremony on the margins of Doha Forum. ©QFFD
UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency and the Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD) signed an agreement worth US$4 million today to provide much-needed seasonal cash assistance for tens of thousands of refugee men, women and children. The cash assistance, which will be distributed until the end of December 2019, is expected to support over 20,900 Syrian refugees in Jordan and around 24,900 in Lebanon.
The agreement was signed by Amin Awad, UNHCR Director for the Middle East and North Africa Bureau, and Regional Refugee Coordinator for the for the Syria and Iraq situations, and Mr. Misfer bin Hamad Al Shahwani, Deputy General Manager for Projects Development in Qatar Fund for Development.
“We are thankful to the Qatar Fund For Development, the generous Qatari people, and the government and leadership of Qatar for this much-needed contribution. Winter is a critical time for hundreds of thousands of vulnerable refugee families across the Middle East and North Africa region. The ability to provide winter assistance and more importantly, cash assistance is integral to safeguarding their wellbeing throughout the difficult circumstances” said Awad.
UNHCR’s Winterization Appeal was launched in September this year and aims to secure US$222 million to secure timely and substantial support for some 3.88 million refugees and internally displaced persons in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt in winter. However, funding gaps remain as the winter chill spreads across the region, forcing many to endure their ninth consecutive winter in displacement.
The provision of cash assistance allows displaced families to prioritize their needs and spending, with many utilizing seasonal cash assistance for heating, rent, warm clothing and other winter essentials.
QFFD’s contributions to UNHCR’s programmes have reached nearly US$28 million supporting some over 600,000 refugees and internally displaced persons in Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, Bangladesh and Yemen.
About Qatar Fund for Development
Qatar Fund For Development is a public entity which is mandated to coordinate and implement foreign aid projects on behalf of the State of Qatar. QFFD has provided foreign assistance to several countries worldwide targeting a variety of sectors, including education, healthcare, and economic development.
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