Qatar has a remarkable role in backing Afghanistan, which started earlier than the US full withdrawal in 2021. Since 2014, Qatar has made effective contributions to aid Afghanistan, including the following initiatives:
June 2014: Aid Distribution to 500 Afghan Families
Floods struck northern Afghanistan in April 2014, damaging the livelihoods of hundreds of families. Qatar Charity disseminated urgent aid for 500 affected Afghan families, including food, medical care, plastic covers, and blankets.
July 2014: Implementing a Relief Program
In July 2014, a conflict broke out in Waziristan, Pakistan, displacing over 1 million people, with 95,000 arriving in Khost and 17,000 in Paktika, Afghanistan. The Qatar Red Crescent was among the first to help, launching a relief program to assess and provide the most appropriate interventions.
September 2014: Relief Aid for Flood Victims
The Qatar Red Crescent provided relief to those affected by the flood disaster in April 2014, redistributing more aid in September. They worked alongside the Afghan Red Crescent to identify beneficiaries, improve living conditions, and ensure their protection and dignity.
October 2016: Opening Development Projects
On October 16, 2016, a delegation from the Qatar Red Crescent visited Afghanistan to inaugurate and follow up on development projects funded by the organization in the fields of water, education, and health care.
May 2018: Agreement to Support Urgent Relief Efforts
In May 2018, the Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) signed a $2 million agreement with the UN Humanitarian Coordinator to support urgent relief efforts in Afghanistan. “The QFFD grant will be used to provide life-saving aid to people in dire need,” said Ali Abdullah Al-Dabbagh, Executive Director of QFFD strategy.
September 2019: Underscoring Qatari Support
Afghanistan’s ambassador to Doha, Abdul Hakim Dalili, highlighted Qatari support, especially economic cooperation, humanitarian aid, education, health, and water supply. The Qatar Red Crescent collaborated with its Afghan counterpart since 2014.
May 2020: Sending a Medical Aid Plane
Under directives from Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, Qatar sent an urgent medical aid plane to Kabul to help confront the Covid-19 pandemic. The aid was received by senior Afghan officials and the Qatar Ambassador to Afghanistan, Saeed bin Mubarak Al-Khayareen.
September 2020: Third Phase of Little Hearts Program
The Qatar Red Crescent concluded the third phase of the Little Hearts program, performing 60 catheterization surgeries on children with congenital heart defects in cooperation with the Afghan Red Crescent. The total cost of the program was $150,000.
March 2021: Warm Winter Project
The Qatar Red Crescent carried out the Warm Winter Project in Afghanistan, distributing food and non-food aid to needy families in Logar and Paktika. Each family received 55 kg of flour, cooking oil, and four blankets, with a total cost of $181,000.
April 2021: Training Women and Girls
The QFFD provided a financial grant to train women and girls in Afghanistan to keep pace with the labor market. The training focused on skills in information technology, personal and employment skills, and business and financial management.
“I am happy to sign this agreement with the QFFD and I hope it will spread hope and the spirit of excellence to a new generation of Afghan girls,” said Lulwah Al-Khater, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar.
June 2021: Launching the Ebsar Initiative
The Qatar Red Crescent launched the Ebsar (Sight) initiative to perform 1,300 cataract surgeries and examine 2,300 patients across several Afghan provinces. The project included free medication, eyeglasses, community awareness activities, and educational publications.
June 2021: Cooperation with the Red Cross
The Qatar Red Crescent discussed renewing logistical cooperation agreements with the International Committee of the Red Cross in Afghanistan and other countries, and they launched a unified support channel for partners in the region.
June 2021: Training Community Midwives
The Qatar Red Crescent launched a project to train community midwives in remote areas in partnership with local organizations and the Afghan Ministry of Health. The project, with an estimated cost of $490,000, aimed to train 24 midwives to serve over 84,000 beneficiaries annually.
All these efforts demonstrate Qatar’s sustained commitment to aid and relieve the Afghan people in various ways.
