QNA
Doha
The State of Qatar revealed the development of more than 10 areas for refugees and displaced fans in eight different countries, with the aim of sharing the joy of watching the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which kicks off on Sunday.
HE Assistant Foreign Minister Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater , the Assistant Chief Executive Officer of the International Operations and Programs at Qatar Charity Nawaf Abdullah Al Hammadi, and Dr. Mohamed Salah Ibrahim, Director of the Relief and International Development Sector at Qatar Red Crescent Society, shed light on Qatar Charitys efforts during a joint press conference.
On this occasion, HE Assistant Foreign Minister Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater said that the State of Qatar has always emphasized that sport is an effective tool for peoples to meet and to promote peace, dialogue and reconciliation, as it has been keen to establish fan zones, which translates its firm belief in the ability of sport to bring about positive social change and stimulate sustainable development, especially by encouraging tolerance, respect and empowering communities, praising the efforts to establish fan zones for displaced people and refugees in Palestine, Jordan, Sudan, Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen, Turkey and Bangladesh.
Her Excellency expressed her happiness that this unique tournament represents an opportunity for change for the better for all peoples of the world, indicating that sports have always been at the forefront of the interests of the State of Qatar over the past years, as it hosted major sports tournaments, which had an effective impact in promoting positive communication between cultures and civilizations and its important role in stimulating human, social, economic and environmental development in the country, the region and the world, and this is the real legacy that Qatar aspires to leave by hosting the World Cup.
Her Excellency also affirmed that the peoples of the region have been wronged when they have become victims of successive crises, armed conflicts, grinding conflicts and an increasing escalation of the rhetoric of fear of Islam, populist rhetoric and malicious campaigns based on double standards, the price of which was paid by the innocent, displacement, asylum and severe suffering, and their countries paid the price in the absence of security, stability and development, expressing her sharing with refugees and displaced persons their daily pain and suffering, Her Excellency stressed that the State of Qatar places mediation and preventive diplomacy at the forefront of its foreign policy priorities, and works hard with partners around the world to achieve security and peace, and to ensure a better future for all mankind.
Her Excellency also clarified that the fan zones for refugees and displaced persons represent a glimmer of hope and a moment they snatch from the age of time, to share the joy of the Arab and Muslim World Cup and all humanity.
For his part, Dr. Mohamed Salah Ibrahim, Director of the Relief and International Development Sector at Qatar Red Crescent Society stressed that this initiative aims to keep pace with the State of Qatar's organization of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 with the humanitarian efforts undertaken by the state and humanitarian associations in the areas of refugee and displaced populations, in addition to the harmony of global sporting goals with the role of Qatar Red Crescent Society in mitigating from the suffering of vulnerable groups and contributing to psychological and health support, organizing several sports and recreational activities, and providing suitable places to display football matches so that they can follow up and share this joy with Qatar and the world.
He stressed that the initiative represents a human equation that sports is for all, because it advocates humanitarian issues and a positive catalyst for all ages, and plays its role through its educational and entertainment programs in creating an atmosphere of joy, happiness and social cohesion.
In the same context, Nawaf Abdullah Al Hammadi said that the initiative's goal is to engage the displaced and refugees in the concerned countries with the joy of the World Cup, with the countdown to Qatar hosting the largest football event in the world.