June 5th, 2017 ― Doha: Qatar Red Crescent (QRCS) and Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to launch a humanitarian intervention for the victims of drought in Somalia. $2mn Co-Funding June 5th, 2017 ― Doha: Qatar Red Crescent (QRCS) and Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to launch a humanitarian intervention for the victims of drought in Somalia. The agreement was signed by QFFD Executive Director of Project Development, Misfir Hamad Al-Shahwani, and QRCS Secretary-General, Ali Hassan Al-Hammadi. Under the MoU, a series of health care, food, water, and sanitation projects with a total budget of $2 million (QR 7,275,880), of which QFFD would provide 1,637,800 and QRCS $362,200. During the signing ceremony, Mr. Al-Shahwani stated, "This grant from QFFD will help alleviate the suffering of the victims of the humanitarian crisis in Somalia, amid too severe conditions and drought". "It is part of the State of Qatar's humanitarian strategy to mitigate the suffering of humanity and falls under the humanitarian response plan adopted by QFFD for 2016. To that effect, several agreements were signed over the year, including relief interventions for Fallujah, Syria, and Aleppo," said Mr. Al-Shahwani. He added that QFFD appreciates the strong relations with QRCS and bilateral cooperation for the relief of the Somali people. Mr. Al-Hammadi, said, "I would like to thank QFFD for this generous support to QRCS's imminent relief response to the drastic situation in Somalia, by meeting the basic needs of victims in a way that preserves their dignity". He commended the strategic partnership with QFFD, which reflects the approach of Qatar leaders towards helping the vulnerable and the distressed, particularly in Arab countries like Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Libya. "At the center of this is QRCS, thanks to its internationally recognized capacity and auxiliary role to the State of Qatar in its local and international humanitarian policy," he noted. As things went from bad to worse, QRCS sent a relief delegation to Somalia to make a needs assessment in preparation for a relief response for the victims of drought and civil war in the city of Galkayo. The delegation held meetings and talks with local authorities and community leaders of the city. This joint initiative by QRCS and DFFD seeks to improve the complicated humanitarian situation in Somalia, with multiple health and development projects to support local hospitals. Also, the scope of intervention would involve supplies for nutrition centers, as well as drilling/rehabilitation of artesian wells to secure clean drinking water. According to humanitarian reports, the drought and civil war between the two belligerent parts of the city have affected more than 250,000 people.