QATAR RED CRESCENT PROVIDES WINTER AID FOR AFGHANISTAN

Doha, 30 Rabiul Awal 1437/10January 2016 (MINA) – Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has provided basic winter aid for 1,554  poor  families affected by the earthquake and snow season in Afghanistan, with a budget of QR1m.

The Warm Winter programme initiated last November aims to alleviate the suffering of the needy and displaced in the face of the cold winter. It involves distribution of 1,500 wood heaters, 10,500 blankets and 1,500 bags of winter clothes to 10,500 beneficiaries in the Badakhshan, Faryab, and Wardak provinces, The Peninsula quoted by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA) as reporting.

Badakhshan was the centre of the earthquake late last October, leaving behind many casualties, damage and deteriorated humanitarian conditions, especially in the hard-to-reach mountainous areas.

QRCS distributed food and nonfood aid to the families (9,323 people) from 24 towns in Jurm and Yamgan districts in  Badakhshan. Each family received a 72kg package containing rice, vegetable oil, sugar, beans and tea as well as four blankets, kitchenware and a bag of winter clothes.

The purchase of items from the local market, quality check and surveys of beneficiaries were done in coordination with the Afghan Red Crescent Society.

Badakhshan Governor met the QRCS team and awarded them a certificate of appreciation in recognition of QRCS’s relief efforts in the province,The meeting was attended by a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Distribution is expected to begin in Faryab and Wardak within two weeks. Relief items are being purchased from Kabul and will be sent to the target areas.

QRCS was the first international humanitarian organisation to reach out to Badakhshan and northern provinces to provide relief following the earthquake.

Thousands of homeless families are suffering severe conditions amid below-zero temperatures in northern regions, heavy snowing in cities and blocked roads in mountains, According to reports, about two million children are at risk due to cold weather and malnutrition.

The scarcity of food, heating material and blankets aggravates the risk for millions of poor and displaced people in several parts of the country, only a few can afford to purchase blankets, clothes, or jackets for children  crucial during the winter.

The project is part of QRCS’s Warm Winter campaign for 2015-2016, which is providing QR11m worth of winter aid for more than 200,000 beneficiaries in Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Lebanon (Syrian and Palestinian refugees) and Jordan and Kurdistan (Syrian refugees). (T/Imt/R03)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)