9/30/2015
It is expected that by the coming November, the biggest residential city, which QC implemented near the Syria-Turkey borders for the displaced Syrians, will have been built. The city can accommodate around 7,000 people, and was implemented at a cost of more than 40,000,000 QR.
In order to closely follow up with the work progress in the city, to review what was completed and what is left, a delegation from QC paid Al Rayyan city a visit. The delegation included Mr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Yaf’ie, Support Affairs CEO; and Mr. Ibrahim Zainal, QC’s Deputy Executive Director of International Development; accompanied with Urooj Hussain, Deputy Director of the Turkish International Human Relief and Humanitarian (IHH) – the party which provided the land for the project and supervised its implementation.
During the tour in the model city which QC called ‘Al Rayyan City’ for displaced Syrians, the delegation visited the housing units which were already completed. They also visited other housing units and service facilities which are under construction, including the mosque. The delegation reviewed the plan set for the completion of this huge project. They were pleased to see the completion of 70% of the project. In the meeting, the delegation emphasized the importance of working steadily so as to entirely implement the project in the coming November to secure shelters for thousands of displaced Syrians before winter.
A Tour in Al Salama Camp
At the same time of visiting Al Rayyan city, QC’s delegation visited Al Salama refugee camp for the displaced Syrians. They checked upon the Syrians’ severe circumstances and sufferings. It is also expected that some of these Syrians will be moved to Al Rayyan city once it is entirely constructed in order to provide them with a dignifying shelter.
In a press release, Mr. Zeinal said, “QC paid this field visit because it always makes sure to follow up with the work progress of its distinguished projects in general and the completion of this project in particular. All of which is to ensure a shelter for thousands of displaced Syrians before winter. To the conflict-affected Syrians, shelters top their list of priorities; which is why we hope a lot of displaced Syrian families, who are still living in tents near the Turkey-Syria borders, benefit from this project.”
In addition, Mr. Mohammed Abdullah Al Yaf’ie commended the distinguishing features of this project; the most important one is the fact that the laborers working on the project are 100% Syrians. Furthermore, this project is environmentally friendly; its lighting will depend entirely on solar energy. Finally, once the project is entirely implemented, the people of the city will be its governors.
The City’s Facilities
This model city consists of 10 villages; each village consists of 100 caravans. The beneficiary families will get a shelter with an area of around 17.5 m2, a width of 2.5 m, a length of 7 m, and a height of 2.5 m. Plus, it comprises two rooms. It can accommodate a family of 6 or 7 members. The place will be equipped with the basic needs such as mattresses, blankets, pillows, carpets, space heaters, a refrigerator, water tanks, closets, and cookware.
Al Rayyan city has several service facilities such as a mosque, 30 classrooms, several clinics, administrative offices, and playgrounds for children. A wall will be built around the city to secure its safety. The lighting will depend on solar energy, which makes the project ‘Al Rayyan City’ environmentally friendly.
This project is the outcome of a cooperation agreement between QC and IHH, which was signed in Istanbul few months earlier. Mr. Youssef bin Ahmed Al Kuwairi, QC’s CEO, and Bulent Yildirim, IHH President, signed the agreement in Istanbul, Turkey. The agreement states that QC will donate 33,000,000 QR, while IHH will donate 7,000,000 QR, and will supervise the implementation of this project.
According to the FTS of the UN’s office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs, QC was rewarded first rank universally for its aid for the Syrian people in the last three years.
The total cost of QC’s implemented projects for the conflict-affected Syrians until last March reached 240,000,000 QR from which 4,500,000 QR people benefited. 60% of these projects were implemented inside Syria. They included food, shelter, health, sponsorship and others. The rest of the projects were implemented for the Syrian refugees in the neighboring countries.
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