Qatar Red Crescent Society’s (QRCS) food aid distributions in three African countries, which part of its Ramadan Iftar programme, is expected to benefit more than 24,000 internally displaced people (IDP).

At a total cost of QR851,579, this relief operation comes at a time when IDP families are suffering deteriorated conditions amid scarce supplies from charities.

In response, the officials of beneficiary municipalities thanked the State of Qatar and QRCS for helping the needy families during Ramadan.

In Somalia, QRCS’s mission in Mogadishu distributes $100,000 worth of food packages to 1,560 families (9,360 people) in several IDP camps across the Banaadir region.

Each package contains 90 kg of food items such as maize, rice, sugar, powdered milk, dates, and vegetable oil.

At the same time, QRCS's mission in Niger is distributing 1,700 food packages worth $100,000 to 11,900 people in the destitute parts of Niamey, the capital, as well as in IDP camps.

Sufficient for 30 days, each package contains 62kg of rice, millet, sugar, oil, dates, tea, salt, and canned tomato paste.

The distributions have been co-ordinated with other humanitarian organisations to identify the beneficiaries and avoid duplication.

In Chad, which hosts 8,210 Central African refugees, QRCS's mission and Al-Bir Association of Chad are distributing food packages to 410 families (2,780 people) in Goré and Doba provinces.

At a total cost of $37,000, each package contains 59kg of food items, including rice, flour, sugar, oil, and dates, which is good for one month.

QRCS personnel are co-ordinating with provincial authorities and non-governmental organisations to facilitate field visits and distributions.

Central African refugee camp chief Ahmed Mohamed said beneficiaries thanked QRCS for its noble contribution as they are in a dire need of any form of assistance during the holy month of Ramadan.

“May God protect the government and people of Qatar,” he said.

The Governor of Goré invited other humanitarian groups to adopt QRCS's approach, lauding its constant support to the incoming Central Africans as a leading humanitarian organisation.

“We in the Government of Chad are ready to join QRCS and Al-Bir Association in any endeavour to implement relief and health projects in the country,” he said.