Qatar using charity to serve its political agenda in Ethiopia

Sara Rashad

Qatar steps into the row between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over the latter’s Nile river dam. This time, however, it uses charity.

Qatar Charity, which is usually used by Doha in infiltrating other countries, sent humanitarian aid on November 29 to thousands of Ethiopian refugees who fled fighting in their country to Sudan.

The aid, Qatar Charity said on its website, includes 100 tents, and 2,600 blankets.

Meanwhile, a Qatari plane landed at Khartoum International Airport on Saturday, bringing in medical supplies needed for Sudan’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. The plan also carried aid to Ethiopian refugees in Sudan.

Qatar uses United Nations appeals for responding to the humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia in serving its political agenda in Ethiopia.

The United Nations said over $150 million were needed to cater for the needs of Ethiopian refugees in Sudan.

There are 43,000 Ethiopian refugees in Sudan at present, the UN said.

Qatari role

Qatari support to Egypt’s southern neighbors cannot be viewed separately from political and ideological conflicts between Egypt and Qatar.

According to reports, Qatar tries to expand its relations with some African states, only with the aim of causing problems to Egypt.

Qatar has become party to the row over the Ethiopian Nile dam by offering support to Ethiopia. The support is seen as coming as a reward for Ethiopian intransigence on the dam file.

Qatari-Ethiopian relations started picking up years ago.