Doha, June 21 (QNA) - Qatar Fund for Development (QFFD), in partnership with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Doha and Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU) celebrated World Refugee Day by organizing the "Together for Refugees" event at the College of Islamic Studies at HBKU, under the patronage and attendance of QFFD Chairman, HE Sheikh Thani bin Hamad Al-Thani.

The function brought together humanitarian partners and community members in an evening filled with dialogue, learning, and community interaction. The event aimed to raise awareness of asylum and forced displacement issues, consolidate societal understanding of the challenges facing refugees, and highlight their ability to give and contribute to their communities.

It also provided participants, through a variety of interactive activities and meaningful dialogues, with the opportunity to get to know humanitarian work closely and express their solidarity with refugees and displaced persons around the world.

As part of the event program, QFFD and UNHCR organized a dialogue session entitled "From Survival to Opportunity: Enhancing Refugee Resilience and Integration" to discuss the importance of education, livelihoods, social inclusion, and multilateral partnerships in promoting sustainable pathways towards self-reliance for refugees and host communities. The Education Above All Foundation, Qatar Charity, and the College of Islamic Studies at Hamad Bin Khalifa University made valuable contributions to the discussion, emphasizing initiatives aimed at alleviating the suffering of refugees and supporting them to achieve success.

The event also included a range of interactive activities, including educational games, workshops, interactive discussion and platforms, allowing participants of all ages to getter better acquainted with asylum issues. It also highlighted the role of sports as an effective tool for promoting inclusion, resilience, and hope by supporting the building of self-confidence, developing skills, and strengthening social ties between refugees and their communities, which contributes to empowering them and creating better opportunities for their future.

Head of Disasters and Emergency Relief at QFFD, Aisha Saad Al Jassim stated: "World Refugee Day reminds us that behind every number is a humanitarian story entitled steadfastness, hope, and determination. At QFFD,

we believe that supporting refugees is not limited to meeting urgent humanitarian needs but extends to investing in opportunities that enable individuals and communities to rebuild their lives with dignity and confidence. Through our established partnership with UNHCR and our broader commitment to supporting sustainable development, we continue to work to consolidate inclusion and create pathways that open up prospects for a more hopeful future for communities affected by displacement."

For his part, UNHCR Representative to the State of Qatar, Ahmed Mohsen said: "Refugees do not seek to rely on aid, but rather aspire to opportunities. By promoting inclusion and providing assistance and livelihood opportunities, UNHCR supports refugees and internally displaced persons to become self-reliant and contribute effectively to their host communities. Through strong partnerships with governments and development agencies, such as the Qatar Development Fund, we invest in solutions that enable those forced to flee to build a better future for themselves and their families."

Through its strategic partnership with UNHCR, QFFD continues to support initiatives that enhance protection, consolidate resilience, and support sustainable solutions for refugees and displaced communities around the world. The "Together for Refugees" event reflects the two institutions' shared commitment to raising awareness, instilling values of solidarity, and catalysing collective action in support of the most vulnerable groups.

As forced displacement continues to be a global challenge, QFFD and UNHCR renew their commitment to work with governments, humanitarian and development agencies, international organizations, the private sector, and local communities to create opportunities that enable refugees to overcome the challenges of displacement and build a more stable, dignified, and hopeful future. (QNA)