Doha hosted today the activities of the Humanitarian and Development Forum for Palestine under the theme 'Together We Make Hope'. The forum is organized by Qatar Charity and sponsored by Qatar Fund for Development along with other international and UN organizations.
The two-day forum seeks to strengthen coordination and partnership between the various supporters of the Palestinian people, diagnose the reality of development and humanitarian work, and find the most effective support solutions and exchange experiences and information related to development and humanitarian work in Palestine.
It also aims to launch a range of development and humanitarian initiatives and mobilize resources and support to address the pressing issues of concern to development and humanitarian action in Palestine.
Addressing the opening session, CEO of Qatar Charity Yusuf bin Ahmed Al Kuwari said that this forum, attended by various international and regional actors to discuss issues of development and humanitarian work in Palestine, contributes to strengthening the steadfastness of the Palestinian people, referring to the centrality of the Palestinian cause and its importance for the Arab and Islamic worlds and commending the efforts of many parties from different parts of the world in support of the Palestinian people.
The CEO of Qatar Charity said that the Charity organized this forum on an annual basis to bring together all the spectra of development and humanitarian work in order to discuss various means and possible solutions to strengthen the Palestinian people's capabilities to withstand humanitarian and development challenges.
He said that the forum focuses on development and humanitarian issues of interest to the Palestinian people; and that's why it is open for the participation and contribution by all those who support these issues from various governmental and non-governmental organizations inside Palestine or outside it either through experiences, knowledge or money.
He added that Qatar Charity looks forward to seeing an announcement of development and humanitarian initiatives to support the Palestinian people.On his part, Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development Khalifa bin Jassim Al Kuwari expressed the Fund's keenness on participating in the forum out of the belief that development and humanitarian work requires collective effort by various governmental and non-governmental parties and the involvement of the private sector. 
He pointed to the urgent need for a platform that brings together all those interested in development and humanitarian issues in Palestine in order to exchange information and experiences and look for effective solutions to serve the development, according to national priorities in order to respond to the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people.
He pointed to the support allocated by the State of Qatar for the Palestinian people, saying that Qatar's support to the Palestinian people covered various sectors such as health, education and economic empowerment, infrastructure, roads and social housing, agriculture, energy and others.
In the past five years and under the auspices of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, the total support provided by the State of Qatar through the Qatar Fund for Development to the Palestinian people amounted to more than $812 million of the total commitments in excess of $1.9 billion, he added.
The Director General of the Qatar Fund for Development said that the Fund will continue to support the Palestinian people in various development and humanitarian actions in cooperation and coordination with government and non-government partners at the local and international levels, describing the forum as an opportunity for consultation and coordination in order to ensure effective assistance to the people of Palestine to enhance their steadfastness in the face of challenges and crises they face.
In his speech, the Assistant Secretary General of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ambassador Hesham Youssef focused on the importance of the forum to support Palestinians, adding that the possibility of organizing an international meeting to highlight the cause is being discussed. 
The OIC has held many meetings focusing on several crises such as those in Somalia, the countries neighboring Lake Chad, Yemen and Iraq, he said. He pointed to the ongoing suffering of the Palestinians and the ongoing Judaization of Jerusalem and attempts to wipe out their identity in Jerusalem, in addition the situation in the West Bank and obstacles facing its people as well as inhumane siege on the residents of Gaza are facing for more than ten years. 
He referred to a report by the United Nations stating if the siege of Gaza continues, normal life will not be viable in the territory by 2020 due to the ongoing unemployment, and as 95 percent of its water unfit for drinking and its education, health, and economy system is deteriorating. 
Eighty five percent of the families in Gaza depend daily on humanitarian aid which is unacceptable, he added, praising Arab support for Palestinians over the years and calling for continuing this support. 
Youssef called for establishing an efficient facility to exchange data, discuss and coordinate aid provided to Palestinian, confirming OIC's support to achieve such a tool. 
HE Palestine's Ambassador to Qatar Moneer Ghanam valued the generous aids provided by the Qatari entities and nationals to Palestine, saying that the wise Qatari leadership has always been supporting the Palestinian cause. 
He added, that Qatar has received a well deserved honorable reputation regionally and internationally as well as gratitude and respect from Palestinian nationals due to the ongoing support. 
At the end of the opening session, HE Chairman of Qatar Charity Hamad bin Nasser Al-Thani honored the local and international organizations sponsoring the forum.

Source : QNA