Doha: HE Vice President of Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) Eng. Ebrahim Hashim Al Sada inaugurated the seventh annual forum for foreign missions and offices, welcoming high-level attendees from relevant state institutions, alongside participants from offices and external programs across 14 countries.
According to Qatar News Agency, HE Al Sada emphasized that the forum serves as a platform for QRCS and its partners from official and non-official humanitarian organizations to exchange visions and experiences. This collaboration aims to foster integration and strengthen partnerships at both leadership and field levels. He highlighted QRCS’s achievements for the current year, including the initiation of 372 projects valued at 390 million Qatari Riyals, benefiting four million people in 2024. Among these, over 137 projects have been approved at the external level, covering health, shelter, water and sanitation, food security, emergency relief, livelihood, and education.
The forum also underscored significant
QRCS accomplishments, such as the medical sector receiving the ISO Information Security certificate (ISO27001), enhancing Qatar’s leadership in the health sector, and prior Canadian accreditation. The General Secretariat of QRCS was honored with the Excellence in Charitable Work Award in Kuwait and received ISO 9001 certification.
Dr. Akram Nassar, Director of QRCS in Gaza, addressed the forum via video, highlighting the extensive damage from the conflict in the strip, resulting in the loss of over 10% of the population and the displacement of two million people living under dire conditions. He emphasized QRCS’s ongoing commitment to humanitarian duties despite challenges and restrictions. Dr. Mansour Ali, CEO of the Surgery Department at Sidra Medicine, noted the vital medical care provided through QRCS convoys, including lifesaving surgeries and chronic disease treatments.
The forum’s opening included the honoring of several partner entities, office and mission directors, and medical staff, recognizing th
eir contributions to QRCS’s 23 medical convoys conducted in 13 countries, benefiting 33,500 patients in 2023 and 2024.
The five-day forum will host workshops and brainstorming sessions to align humanitarian and relief practices, design emergency plans, discuss performance indicators and strategies, and incorporate artificial intelligence into humanitarian work. Efforts will focus on enhancing ground-level humanitarian initiatives and strengthening partnerships with national societies in target countries.
An exhibition showcasing the accomplishments of QRCS offices and missions accompanies the forum, featuring artworks depicting the human stories and tragedies experienced by affected communities.