KEYIR NEWS - In a significant development for the humanitarian sector, the Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and Qatar Charity (QC) have signed a Letter of Understanding (LoU) aimed at delivering critical support to Sudanese refugees in Ethiopia.
The newly signed agreement, titled “Humanitarian Support for Sudanese Refugees in Ethiopia: Addressing Needs in Food, NFI/Shelter and WASH Services,” marks Qatar Charity’s formal entry into Ethiopia’s refugee response efforts.
The project will be implemented by Qatar Charity and focuses on addressing immediate and essential needs including food assistance, non-food items (NFIs), shelter, and water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services.
“This partnership represents a milestone in diversifying and strengthening humanitarian cooperation in Ethiopia,” said a joint statement by the three organisations.
The agreement is the result of over a year of close coordination and joint planning among RRS, UNHCR, and QC, built on a shared understanding of the escalating humanitarian needs and operational challenges facing the refugee population, particularly those fleeing the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
Qatar Charity’s involvement is expected to enhance funding prospects and operational capacity, reinforcing Ethiopia’s existing response mechanisms.
The agreement establishes a strategic framework to ensure that project activities are executed in a coordinated, consistent, and principled manner, fully aligned with national refugee protection policies.
The Refugees and Returnees Service (RRS) extended its appreciation to the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Ethiopia and Qatar Charity headquarters in Doha for their role in initiating and supporting the collaboration.
“We are grateful for this opportunity to deepen cooperation with Qatar Charity and expand our collective impact in support of refugees and host communities alike,” the RRS noted.
As Ethiopia continues to shoulder the burden of hosting tens of thousands of displaced persons from neighbouring Sudan, this new partnership is expected to offer life-saving interventions and sustainable support mechanisms to some of the country’s most vulnerable populations.
By JEMAL YIMAM | KEYIR STAFF WRITER