Qatar gives Dh7b in aid over 4 years

Manama: Qatar has disclosed that it allocated $2 billion (Dh7.34 billion) in aid to poor countries through global organisations between 2005 and 2009.

The assistance has played a key role in the country’s foreign policy and international cooperation, Dr Hassan Al Mohannadi, Vice-Chairman of the Population Panel, said as Qatari officials discussed the 2010 report on Qatar’s Millennium Development Goals (MDG).

According to the report, which also gave vital information about the state of the country, Qatar had 147 mobile phones per 100 people and an Internet usage of 43 per cent in 2009, up from 24.7 per cent in 2005. However, the percentage of landlines dropped from 23.1 per cent in 2005 to 16.6 per cent.

Shaikh Hamad Bin Jabor Bin Jassim Al Thani, the President of Qatar Statistics Authority (QSA), said that Qatar is well on its way to achieving its Millennium Development goals by 2015, Qatari daily The Peninsula reported. Fighting poverty and hunger, ensuring equal distribution of income and enhancing the living conditions of the population are just some of the goals.

Shaikh Hamad, also Chairman of Qatar’s Permanent Population Committee, said that 92 per cent of Qatari males and between 93 and 95 per cent of Qatari females accessed primary-level education.

Literacy levels were between 95 and 99 per cent amongst Qatari females in the 15 to 24-year-old age group and 98 and 99 per cent amongst males.
Shaikh Hamad said that rare economic growth in recent years has allowed Qatar to invest heavily in economic and social infrastructure and that high levels of public spending in key projects have accelerated national progress.

The report, prepared by the QSA in coordination with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), stated that while progress was being made in the areas of gender equality and empowerment of women, changing people’s behaviour and attitudes was still a challenge.

"There is, therefore, the need to support civil societies in strengthening their involvement and capabilities to contribute to achieving the ND goals," Shaikh Hamad said.