Doha: Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) mission in Lebanon has launched the year-round Charitable Catering project in Arsal, northeast Lebanon, to help Syrian refugees with food, and create jobs for the local workforce.
The project is the first result of the joint humanitarian action by the Gulf Red Crescent Societies for distressed Syrians, under the recommendations of the second meeting of the Committee of Top Officials of Red Crescent Societies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) held last November in Kuwait.
In keeping with decisions at the meeting, a delegation of representatives of the GCC National Societies visited Lebanon in December 2014 to examine the most urgent needs of Syrian refugees.
The project is being undertaken in partnership with the Irshad & Islah Islamic Beneficent Association in Lebanon, which supplied the food items and cooking equipment, developed lists of beneficiaries, and had the meals cooked and packaged. QRC’s responsibilities include funding, rehabilitation of the cooking facilities, and distribution of meals to Syrian families all over Arsal.
With the beginning of Ramadan, the kitchen began work to provide 2,020 meals to Syrian refugees every day. It will continue to serve meals after Ramadan until June 2016, providing more than 730,000 meals over one year. So far, 24,000 meals have been served.
Omar Katerji, Head of QRC mission in Lebanon, said the project addresses the needs of Syrians in the isolated town, which witnessed clashes at the end of 2014. It is also intended to fill the gap caused by drop in humanitarian assistance by international organisations.
According to Katerji, the town’s 42,000 refugees are not covered by the financial aid programme of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) that adds to their
suffering. The Peninsula
