(MENAFN- The Peninsula) QNA
Brussels: The State of Qatar participated in the international donors' conference to support Turkiye and Syria following the earthquake, which was held in Brussels.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs HE Sultan bin Saad Al Muraikhi represented Qatar in the meeting.
In a speech before the conference, HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs thanked the European Commission and the Kingdom of Sweden for their tireless and fruitful efforts in organizing the conference to support the victims and quake-affected in Turkiye and Syria, expressing Qatar's appreciation for the efforts made by members of the international community, UN agencies, and other humanitarian relief and rescue efforts that they have undertaken since the first day of the disaster and their endeavor to address its effects in the long term.
His Excellency reviewed the efforts of the State of Qatar from the first moment of the disaster, as it provided all support and harnessed all capabilities to assist in rescue and relief in Turkiye and northern Syria.
HE Al Muraikhi added that the Qatari authorities participated in rescue efforts, operating flights and medical staff, and launching social campaigns to alleviate the suffering of those affected, which included the provision of hundreds of tons of food and medicine and thousands of mobile homes.
HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said that the State of Qatar's humanitarian and political role under the leadership of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani represented in supporting international initiatives and efforts aimed at achieving development, alleviating the suffering of victims of crises and disasters, and facing the global challenges, in the framework of Qatar's belief in the importance of international partnership and cooperation to achieve this.
His Excellency pointed out that the State of Qatar was keen to provide full and continuous support to alleviate the severity of the humanitarian crisis in Syria, especially its northern part, as the earthquake disaster added further suffering to the war, destruction, and the difficulty of accessing humanitarian aid.
HE the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs expressed hope that the conference would constitute an important opportunity to support relief and reconstruction efforts in the quake-affected areas in Turkiye and Syria. He also noted the need for the Syrian regime's commitment and pledge to facilitate and protect humanitarian work in all its forms to mitigate the effects of the devastating earthquake and humanitarian crises experienced by the people of Syria and the need to ensure that aid reaches the affected areas.
His Excellency stressed the commitment of the State of Qatar to support the needs of those affected by the earthquake disaster, pointing out that the State of Qatar provided USD 93 million as an urgent response and continues to support projects in the process of implementation for the needy groups in Turkiye and Syria, worth about USD 59 million, taking the total aid to more than USD 150 million.
He reaffirmed the position of Qatar to work together to mitigate the effects of crises, achieve sustainable development goals and ensure international peace and security.