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South Sudan

QRCS Provides Life-Saving Food Aid for Famine Victims in South Sudan [EN/AR]

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January 17th, 2017 ― Doha: In response to the alarming humanitarian situation in South Sudan, Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) has launched a relief intervention to help the victims of famine in the war-torn country, at a total cost of $300,000.

Co-implemented by Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS) and the World Food Programme (WFP), the programme involves delivering 187 tons of popular food items like maize, cereals, and vegetable oil.

The food supplies were procured from neighboring countries and stored at WFP's warehouses, in coordination with local authorities.

Today, the first batch of aid was airdropped by United Nations aircraft onto worst-hit inaccessible areas, where a team of WFP is stationed to collect and distribute them to the beneficiaries. The distribution will be supervised by QRCS and KRCS representatives.

More than 100,000 people are facing a widespread famine in several parts of South Sudan, and 270,000 children already have severe malnutrition. According to international reports, 5 million people are in dire need of help, basically food and livelihood.

Insecurity makes it difficult to access drought-stricken areas, leaving thousands at risk of death if food aid is not immediately secured.

The programme is done under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between QRCS and WFP in April 2017 to secure technical and logistical services through the UN Humanitarian Response Depot (UNHRD) network, a preparedness tool that supports the strategic stockpiling efforts of the wider humanitarian community.

Having commenced its operations there since 2013, QRCS has conducted several health, water, and sanitation projects in the nascent country, with funding from Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD). Among these achievements are digging water wells, building toilets, and promoting environmental hygiene.

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About Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS)
Established in 1978, Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) is a humanitarian volunteering organization that aims to assist and empower vulnerable individuals and communities without partiality or discrimination.
QRCS is a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which consists of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and 190 National Societies. QRCS is also a member of several GCC, Arab, and Islamic organizations, such as the Islamic Committee of International Crescent and the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization (ARCO). In this legally recognized capacity, QRCS has access to disaster and conflict zones, thus serving as an auxiliary to the State of Qatar in its humanitarian efforts — a role that distinguishes it from other local charities and NGOs.
QRCS operates both locally and internationally and has ongoing international relief and development projects in a number of countries throughout the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Europe. QRCS's humanitarian actions include providing support in disaster preparedness, disaster response, risk reduction, and disaster recovery. To mitigate the impact of disasters and improve the livelihoods of affected populations, QRCS provides medical services, healthcare, and social development to local communities. It is also active at the humanitarian advocacy front. With the help of a vast network of trained, committed staff and volunteers, QRCS aspires to improve the lives of vulnerable people by mobilizing the power of humanity.
QRCS works under the umbrella of the seven international humanitarian principles: Humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.
For more information, please contact Fareed Adnan, Head of Media Affairs, Communication Department, Tel.: +974 5583 7338, email: fareed@qrcs.org.qa.