QRCS Launches QR 7.3 Million Fundraising Campaign for Iraq

Doha, April 04 (QNA) - Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has launched a three-month campaign to raise $2 million (QR 7,300,000) to implement an urgent relief program for thousands of displaced Iraqi families in Al-Anbar Governorate in Iraq, over six months. Last week, QRCS issued an emergency appeal to support 8,000 families (40,000 people) affected by the recently escalating violence across the country. In a press statement today, QRCS Secretary-General, Saleh bin Ali Al-Mohannadi, welcomed the media reporters and commended their support of QRCS's humanitarian activities, especially this charitable campaign that comes in a critical time for thousands of helpless Iraqi families who need shelter, health care, water and sanitation services, and food assistance. "Our office in Iraq is closely working with other local and international humanitarian organizations to ensure timely delivery of aid, avoid duplication of efforts, and reach out to as many victims as possible," Al-Mohannadi pointed out. Aiham Al-Sukhni, Head of QRCS Disaster Management, reviewed QRCS's humanitarian intervention in detail. "We are planning to provide shelter and nonfood aid for 4,000 families at a cost of $650,000, clean water and hygiene facilities for 8,000 families ($500,000), medical care and health education for 8,000 families ($650,000), and food packages for 8,000 families ($200,000). In relation to how to donate, Ahmed Al-Khulaifi, Head of QRCS Resource Mobilization, clarified, "You can send an SMS to 92966 to donate QR 100, 92770 (QR 500), or 92740 (QR 1000). Donations can also be deposited in person at QRCS's headquarters or agents at malls and shopping centers. Our online donation website is www.qrcs.org.qa, and our donation bank account IBAN at Barwa Bank is QA26BRWA000000000100000002005. For help, call any of our hotlines 66644822 and 66666364". A previous emergency appeal was issued by QRCS on 19 June 2014, which secured humanitarian projects for more than 30,000 people (6,000 most affected families). In Ramadan 2014 and 2015, QRCS's personnel distributed food packages to 25,000 displaced Iraqis in Al-Anbar, Saladin, Baghdad, and Erbil. Under QRCS's Warm Winter Campaign 2015, QRCS distributed winterization aid to 5,000 homeless Iraqi families in Mosul, Al-Anbar, Amiriyah Fallujah, Baghdad and Ramadi outskirts, Diyala, Halabja, and the desert area between Hit and Ar-Rutbah, Al-Anbar. Also, major water and sanitation projects were co-implemented by QRCS and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), with a budget of more than $1,750,000. (QNA)