QRC Begins Syria Aid Campaign

Doha , February 21 (QNA) - The Qatari Red Crescent (QRC) said Tuesday that they will start a campaign to aid the Syrian crisis's affected citizens, with $500,000 already made available to support the immediate and pressing needs of the Syrian Refugees as the initial response to the campaign. (QRC) Executive Director Saleh Ali Al-Muhanadi said, in a press conference held here today to announce the campaign, that the Red Crescent aims to raise $5.48 million (QR 20 million) for the first stage of the aid, which will benefit 40000 people on the span of six months. A team will be deployed to Lebanon after tomorrow, Thursday, to distribute vital aid of food and other materials to the displaced Syrians there. The team will also re-evaluate the needs of the displaced citizens in the second stage, he told reporters. Al -Muhanadi said that supporting the emergency needs includes providing aid for emergency medical services such as ambulances, first aid kits and stretchers, medical supplies and medical equipment. As well as food and non-food materials, Al-Muhanadi added. QRC Executive Director stressed that the Red Crescent was one of the first Qatari organizations to respond to the crisis since its beginning in 2011. In May 2011 QRC has assisted 200 refugee families in Lebanon; it also distributed aid to Syrian refugees in Jordan. QRC has also managed to send a couple of ambulances to Syria. He also noted the amount of suffering Syrians are going through since the beginning of their uprising, He cited the UN's estimate of 5000 victims that passed away since the beginning of the unrest. Al -Muhanadi further said that there will be 20 locations to raise the funds in malls like City Center, Land Mark, Villagio in addition to forty mosques that collects donations on a weekly basis. The account number for donation is 1111-126666-004 at the Islamic International Bank. (QNA)