Qatari Press Hail Qatar's Continued Support for Friendly, Sisterly Countries in Fighting COVID-19

Doha, April 17 (QNA) - Qatari daily newspapers issued today stressed, in their editorials, that Qatar continues to support the efforts of friendly and sisterly countries to fight the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, referring to the directions of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, yesterday, to sending urgent medical assistance to the sisterly Lebanese Republic. This support is a continuation of the trend led by HH the Amir since the beginning of the crisis, where many forms of support were sent to friends and brothers in China, Italy, Iran, Palestine and others, the newspapers said noting that despite its preoccupation with its national war against the pandemic, Qatar has never forgotten its brothers and friends, especially in times of hardship. Al Sharq daily newspaper said that the role that Qatar plays under the patronage and guidance of HH the Amir is not new, as the State of Qatar has always been at the forefront of countries with regard to standing alongside friends and brothers in good and bad times, and at the forefront of donors and international contributors to humanitarian and development work. A role that constitutes one of the most important priorities of Qatar's foreign policy, which stresses support and consolidation of efforts to reduce expected humanitarian suffering in emergency and complex circumstances, and to enhance humanitarian assistance in war and conflict areas. In this context, consideration can be given to the strategic partnership between the State of Qatar and United Nations organizations in various humanitarian and development fields, Al Sharq added. The newspaper added that, despite the preoccupation and mobilization of the state's institutions and bodies in the efforts of confronting COVID-19 and reducing its domestic repercussions, and despite the unjust blockade, the State of Qatar, under HH the Amir's leadership, does not forget its humanitarian duty towards friends and brothers in terms of assistance; solidarity and support, moved by its full awareness that this pandemic poses a common threat to the whole world, which confirms need for regional and international solidarity to confront and eliminate it for the benefit of all humanity. Al Arab daily newspaper stated that, in the framework of the humanitarian role that the State of Qatar plays at the world level, HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani directed sending urgent medical assistance to brotherly and friendly countries, in light of the outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, noting in this regard that His Highness directed yesterday sending aid to the sisterly Lebanese Republic to combat virus. R It added that this assistance reflects the fundamental aspect of His Highness' vision of concern for the people as well as their security and stability, pointing that therefore Qatar harnesses its political position for this purpose in adopting conflict resolution through negotiation and not in the battlefields, and also harnessed its economic potential to support brotherly and friendly peoples in any crises such as the current pandemic. This was evidenced by the recent Qatari support for the brotherly Palestinian people to confront COVID-19, and before that the aid to Iran and China, while several days ago, several military aircraft of the Qatari Amiri Air Force landed in Italy, loaded with a lot of aid. The newspaper pointed out that, in parallel with the international role it plays in contributing to fighting the pandemic, by sending aid to countries where the outbreak has reached high levels, domestically Qatar continues to take health measures to confront the virus and prevent infection. These are the measures that have proven again, that Qatar always deals with crises with high professionalism, especially in terms of the use of early monitoring devices, which contributed to reducing the risk of the virus, without underestimating or amplifying. Al Arab pointed that the latest of these measures was the Cabinet's decision, last week, to suspend all commercial activities on Friday and Saturday of each week, with the exception of food and catering outlets, pharmacies, and restaurants that offer delivery service. The measures were met with great satisfaction from the community, it added. Al Raya daily newspaper said that, despite its preoccupation with its national war against the coronavirus pandemic, the State of Qatar has not forgotten its friends, especially in times of hardship, for here is Qatar, which has never failed to lend a hand to those who need it, today stands with the brothers in their war against the COVID-19 pandemic, pointing that the directives of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, on sending urgent medical assistance to the Lebanese Republic, in support of the efforts to combat the COVID-19, is the best proof of this. It added that people in Gaza had a share of Qatar's help, which was confirmed by the head of the Qatari Committee for the Reconstruction of Gaza, that the committee, in coordination with the Qatar Fund for Development, will continue to provide assistance to hundreds of Palestinians in quarantine centers in the governorates of Gaza, including all daily meals and drinking water for the quarantined, in addition to providing some basic electrical appliances, as well as the necessary beddings such as blankets, mattresses and pillows, adding that the Qatari Committee has distributed food parcels to hundreds of families of the quarantined and needy families in the sector. Al-Raya concluded its editorial that the nature of the positive role that Qatar plays on the international scene, especially in times of crisis and tribulation, confirms that Doha is keen to harness its capabilities for security, stability and peace to people without discrimination, pointing that since the beginning of the pandemic, Qatar has sent humanitarian aid to brothers and friends, as HH the Amir instructed sending urgent medical aid to Italy and Iran. His Highness also directed urgent financial assistance to the sisterly state of Palestine, in support of its brotherly people, in addition to the contribution from the State of Qatar in the global efforts to combat the outbreak of the pandemic. The State of Qatar had previously sent 8 aircraft carrying 300 tons of urgent medical supplies to friends in China, while international airlines have banned flights to Chinese airports. (QNA)