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Afghanistan

QRCS Distributes QR 584,000 Winterization Aid in Three Afghan Provinces [EN/AR]

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February 3rd, 2018 ― Doha: Under its Warm Winter 2017-2018 campaign, Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has initiated a winterization relief project in Afghanistan.

At a total cost of $160,000 (QR 584,000), the project is aimed at alleviating the suffering of the needy and displaced in the face of the cold winter. To that end, winterization aid will be delivered for 1,500 families (7,500 people) in three provinces.

In October 2017, an agreement was signed with the Afghan Red Crescent Society (ARCS) to regulate all preparations and logistics. Then, the lists of beneficiaries as well as the specifications and quality of supplies were double-checked. Governors, heads of municipality, and MPs were engaged in the distributions.

A total of 500 families in Kunar have already received the aid, as follows: Asadabad (185 families), Asmar (175 families), and Shaigal (140 families). This week, the remaining 1000 handovers will continue in Baghlan and Daykundi provinces.

Each winterization package consists of three blankets and winter clothes for four children of various ages (jackets, knit caps, and gloves), as per the international shelter and NFIs standards.

These distributions were hailed by the local authorities and beneficiaries. Farid Allah Hassan, the Acting Governor of Kunar, thanked QRCS for this aid to the neediest families, wishing for more aid in other fields, particularly health care, water and sanitation, and livelihood.

Mohamed Iqbal, East Afghanistan District Manager, ARCS, said the cooperation between QRCS and his organization is not new in the eastern part of the country. "Last year, we co-implemented a Ramadan Iftar project. Earlier, there had been a multi-sector project in two districts of Nangarhar Province," he remarked.

Belal (12) is the eldest son of an 11-member family with no breadwinner. As he stood with three of his siblings beside their poor home in Marawara, Dangam District, all wearing the new warm jackets, Belal expressed ultimate joy for having something to protect them against the biting cold.

In another town, Asia, who lives with a day-labor husband and three kids, saw this aid as invaluable, as they could not afford purchasing such necessities. "I ask Allah to reward all those who contributed and delivered this aid," she prayed.

This project is part of QRCS's Warm Winter campaign, which is well in progress to provide more than QR 12,250,000 winterization aid for more than 200,000 beneficiaries in Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Lebanon, Jordan, Afghanistan, and Kyrgyzstan.

About Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS)

Established in 1978, Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) is a humanitarian charitable organization that aims to assist and empower vulnerable individuals and communities without partiality or discrimination.
QRCS is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which consists of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) in Geneva, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and 189 national societies. QRCS is also a member of several Gulf, Arab, and Islamic assemblies, such as: the Islamic Committee of International Crescent and the Secretariat-General of the Arab Organization of Red Crescent and Red Cross. In this legally recognized capacity, QRCS has access to disaster and conflict zones, thus serving as an auxiliary to the State of Qatar in its humanitarian efforts, a role that distinguishes it from other local charitable or philanthropic organizations.

QRCS operates both locally and internationally and has ongoing international relief and development projects in a number of countries throughout the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe. QRCS's humanitarian actions include providing support in disaster preparedness, disaster response, risk reduction, and disaster recovery. To mitigate the impact of disasters and improve the livelihoods of affected populations, QRCS provides medical services, healthcare, and social development to local communities. It is also active at the humanitarian advocacy front. With the help of a vast network of trained, committed staff and volunteers, QRCS aspires to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity. As a reflection of its long-standing accomplishments and credibility, QRCS's Chairman, Dr. Mohammed Al-Maadheed, is former Vice-President of the IFRC.

Qatar Red Crescent works under the umbrella of the seven international humanitarian principles: Humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

For more information about Qatar Red Crescent, please contact Mr. Fareed Adnan, Head of Media Affairs, Communication Department, Tel.: +974 5583 7338, email: fareed@qrcs.org.qa.
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