Secretary-General António Guterres (right) shake hands with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani (left), Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, at the opening of UN House in Doha, Qatar. ©UN Photo/Evan Schneider
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, inaugurated today the United Nations House in the capital city of Doha. The building, generously contributed by the government of Qatar, will host the offices of several UN agencies present in the country including UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency.
The agreement for the establishment of the UN House was signed from the host country’s side by Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, H.E. Sheikha Alya bint Ahmed Al Thani, and representatives of the different UN Agencies to be housed in the new premises.
Representing UNHCR in the signing was Khaled Khalifa, Senior Advisor to the High Commissioner and UNHCR Representative to Gulf Cooperation Council countries. Commenting on the inauguration, he noted: “The State of Qatar has long been a strong supporter of refugees and displaced people and a trusted partner to UNHCR. The establishment of the United Nations House is yet another example of Qatar’s generosity and its commitment to support the work of UNHCR, further helping us to provide much needed assistance to the forcibly displaced worldwide.”
Khaled Khalifa, Senior Advisor and UNHCR’s Representative to the GCC countries signs the agreement to establish UNHCR’s office in the UN House in Doha. ©UNHCR/ Dalia Atallah
UNHCR signed a host country agreement with the State of Qatar in 2018 on the sidelines of the 18th Doha Forum, cementing a longstanding partnership with the government and its entities. With more than US$ 373 million in contributions from the government and Qatari organizations to date, Qatar’s generosity continues to support UNHCR’s humanitarian efforts to assist refugees and forcibly displaced persons globally.
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