DOHA QATAR Charity (QC) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) signed a cooperation agreement to provide aid to Rohingya, Muslims, in Myanmar’s Rakhine state on Tuesday.
Under this agreement, QC will donate $2 million (QR 7,300,000) for the benefit of 10,000 displaced people. The Qatari grant is only a part of UNHCR relief aid valued at $17 million for the implementation of shelter projects in Rakhine.
In June 2012, Rakhine Buddhists in conjunction with the police, paramilitary forces and the military, began systematic ethnic cleansing of Muslims from central Arakan and Sittwe, Human Rights Watch stated in earlier reports.
The Rohingya, an ethnic minority who have lived in the region since the 8th century, were forced to leave their homes after they were burnt down. Violence erupted once again in October with the immediate cause of the riots remaining unclear.
The agreement signed by UNHCR Regional Representative to the GGC Imran Rida and Qatar Charity CEO Yusuf bin Ahmed al Kuwari will provide temporary shelters worth $1 million to the displaced in Rakhine as well as building kitchens in refugee camps at a cost of $500 thousand.
Engaging the displaced Muslims in re-building their own homes for a monthly salary, will also be part of the funding.
“We are happy to sign an agreement with the UNHCR.
The humanitarian situation in Rakhine state is very well known. That’s why Qatar Charity has sent a team last year to study the situation and determine the requirements.
Now, the partnership with UNHCR responds to those needs,” Kuwari said, during a press conference at Qatar Charity offices.
“Our aid aims to build 1,360 housing units, to accommodate 10,000 beneficiaries, in order to pass over the ongoing tragedy in the Rakhine state,” he added.
Besides the UNHCR’s project of building 1,360 housing units, there will also be two multi-purpose buildings, 11 clinics, 115 kitchens and 18 stores. The agreement, which aims at providing services to Rohingya Muslims, has already come into effect and needs two to three months to be implemented, Rida noted.
“It pleases the UNHCR to cooperate with Qatar Charity in responding to the humanitarian needs of the displaced in Rakhine state. This reflects the humanitarian commitment of Qatar Charity, which reinforces global solidarity,” Rida said. “There are huge needs for 115,000 people displaced by the sectarian violence in Rakhine in June and October 2012. Qatar Charity’s contribution provides aid to 10,000 of the most vulnerable and displaced people,” he added.
Talking to Qatar Tribune, Kuwari said that Qatar Charity members will undertake future visits to follow up on the project’s implementation.
“We have selected an employee for Myanmar. The person will coordinate with the concerned authorities,” Kuwari added.
Qatar Charity had signed an agreement with UNHCR in June 2012, where the charity provided QR 1,100,000 to aid Rohingya Muslims. The aid was provided after a field visit by a Qatar Charity team to Arkan province in North West Myanmar, to assess the humanitarian situation of the displaced people.
Commenting on that visit, CEO of the local administration at QC Mohammed al Ghamdi said that Qatar Charity was the first Gulf charity organisation to reach there. “We hope that other contributors and donators from the world will also help in this process, especially since only $1,000 is donated per shelter where a family of five to six persons will be put up,” Ghamdi added.
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