Qatar and UK announce $50 million funding initiative for global humanitarian and development crises

Qatar and the UK announced a joint $50 million co-funding initiative on February 18 as a part of their partnership to tackle the most pressing humanitarian and development crises across the globe, including the Gaza crisis erupting since October 7.

The initiative was launched in Doha during a meeting chaired by Qatar’s Minister of State for International Cooperation, Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater, and the UK’s Minister of State for Development and Africa, Andrew John Bower Mitchell.

Operating closely together to get aid into Gaza

Speaking in the Qatari capital, Mitchell said: “I’m delighted to be back in Doha to reinforce the UK’s commitment to our development partnership with Qatar.” He highlighted the countries’ mutual interest in alleviating the most pressing global challenges.

Qatar and the UK are operating closely together to get humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip as the brutal Israel-Hamas war continues. Earlier this month, a joint consignment of 29 tonnes of tents reached the strip, through the Qatar Fund For Development.

The latest funding initiative is an outcome of the Strategic Development MoU inked by Minister Mitchell at last year’s United Nations Least Developed Countries Conference in Qatar. The countries have also agreed to hold an inaugural Development Dialogue.

Qatar and UK’s joint response to crises engulfing Mena

Qatar and the UK have co-funded numerous development projects in the Middle East and Africa. In Somalia, they provided $6.5 million support to humanitarian consortium ‘Building Resilient Communities in Somalia’ in April 2023 to manage the famine situation there.

The support helped deliver emergency cash assistance to 7,700 families to buy food and water, primary healthcare services to more than 200,000 Somalis, including lifesaving vaccinations, and provided lifesaving treatment for over 17,000 severely malnourished children.

In addition, Qatar and the UK have supported the ‘Syria Education Programme’, helping tens of thousands of children across Northwest Syria access safe, inclusive and quality education, according to a press release from the British government dated February 18.