As the number of refugees in the region swells to record figures and cold weather begins to set in at camps across the Middle East, several Qatar charities have launched fundraising campaigns to help less-fortunate individuals endure the winter.
In a recent statement, Qatar Charity CEO Yusuf Bin Ahmed Al Kuwari said the contributions of Qatar residents could literally mean the difference between life and death for individuals who have been forced from their homes due to conflicts.
The primary focus of local charities remains assisting Syrians living in refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan, as well as impoverished residents of Yemen, Iraq, Afghanistan and the Palestinian territories.
“(We’re) helping vulnerable, poor and homeless families (who have been) forced by war or disaster to flee their countries or destroyed homes,” Saleh bin Ali Al-Mohannadi, secretary-general of the Qatar Red Crescent (QRC), said in a statement.
Donations will be used to buy essential winter supplies such as clothes, electric heaters, tarpaulins, blankets, heating oil and food.
Most charities are only accepting monetary donations for this campaign. While donors often mean well when they contribute physical items, shipping winter clothes, blankets and other items can be costly for charities.
Here are the details of several local campaigns:
Qatar’s Red Crescent
QRC aims to raise QR11 million to aid more than 200,000 people in need and is primarily targeting Syrian and Palestinian refugees.
Residents can donate online here or via SMS by sending the message “W” to the following numbers:
To donate QR50, SMS 92176; to donate QR100, SMS 92766; to donate QR500, SMS 92770; and to donate QR1,000, SMS 92740.
Donors can also visit the charity’s headquarters in Al Salata, its Al Khor branch, its women’s branch near Obaidly Roundabout or at booths in City Center Mall, Landmark Mall, Villaggio Mall, Ezdan Mall, Hyatt Plaza, The Mall and Al Meera outlets.
For more information, residents can call 16002, 6666-6364 or 6664-4822.
Qatar Charity
Residents can help Qatar Charity reach its goal of raising QR54 million to help 735,000 Syrian refugees by making a donations through its website, at its main branch in the Old Airport area or at any of its booths in local malls.
They can also be made via SMS by sending the word “Syria” to the following numbers:
To donate QR50, SMS 92632; to donate QR100, SMS 92642; to donate QR500, SMS to 92428; and to donate QR1,000, SMS 92429.
Eid Charity
This charity aims to raise QR10 million to send a ”ship of hope” from Jebel Ali in the UAE to Yemen.
The ship will be carrying 4,000 tonnes of food supplies as well as blankets, winter clothes and heating oil. Speaking to Doha News, a representative of the charity said that they had enough clothes and blankets for the ship, but they welcomed monetary donations.
Donations can be made online here or via SMS by sending the message “1” to the following numbers:
To donate QR100 SMS 920244, to donate QR1,000, SMS to 928614 and to donate QR100 every month for one year, SMS 920304.
For more information, call 7707-3030.
RAF Foundation
RAF is running a campaign aimed at gathering QR547,000 to distribute 1,000 winter bags to displaced Syrian families living in Jordan.
Each bag includes blankets and a gas heater. It is also gathering funds to help pay the monthly rent for 200 Syrian families in Jordan.
Donations can be made through its website or via SMS by sending the message “2” to the following numbers:
To donate QR50, SMS 92648; to donate QR100, SMS 92155; to donate QR500, SMS 92166; and to donate QR1,000, SMS 92177.
For more information, call 5534-1818.
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