Doha: Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to the State of Qatar, H E Ahmed Lotfy Mohsen affirmed that the strategic partnership with the State of Qatar serves as a pivotal pillar in addressing global humanitarian crises.
Speaking to the QNA, he stated that the State of Qatar-represented by government bodies and charitable institutions-has, through its close cooperation with the UN agency, provided financial contributions totalling $440m since 2010. These funds have supported protection programmes and provided life-saving assistance to forcibly displaced persons worldwide.
He explained that Qatar’s support extends beyond the financial realm to include logistical and in-kind assistance. This includes facilitating the transport of urgent relief supplies to acute crisis zones-such as Afghanistan and Lebanon-as well as playing a prominent diplomatic role in fostering the stability and dialogue necessary for implementing voluntary return and local integration programmes.
On the actual impact on the ground, he noted that the support included $40m provided through the Qatar Fund for Development since 2019 in the form of flexible, unearmarked funding. This granted the UNHCR exceptional flexibility to respond rapidly to emergencies and direct resources toward the most underfunded operations, thereby ensuring the continuity of essential services such as healthcare, education, and shelter.
Regarding innovative financing tools and Islamic philanthropy, he noted that total Qatari contributions-comprising Zakat and voluntary charity-since 2018 have amounted to nearly $145m. This includes a strategic agreement signed by Qatar Charity last June to contribute $10m to the Global Islamic Fund for Refugees (GIFR).
