Qatari Assistant Foreign Minister Lolwah Alkhater has thanked the members of the Filipino community in Doha for their "generosity and solidarity" with hundreds of Afghan refugees who are now sheltered in that country.
Alkhater, who is also serving as spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, personally posted her message in both English and Filipino via her official Twitter account along with a photo showing her with some of the Filipino volunteers.
“Many thanks to the Philippino community in Qatar, for their generosity and solidarity with our fellow Afghans. They’ve been quietly sending their contributions. You’ve always shown that you’re an integral part of Qatar,” the Qatari diplomat said in her social media post Friday.
In her succeeding tweet, she wrote: “Maraming salamat sa pamayanan ng Filipino sa Qatar, para sa kanilang kabutihang loob (bukas-palad) at pakikiisa sa ating kapwa Afghans. Tahimik silang nagpapadala ng kanilang mga naiambag. Palagi ninyong ipinapakita na kayo ay isang mahalagang bahagi ng Qatar.”
Qatar is currently hosting hundreds of Afghan refugees who fled Afghanistan in the aftermath of the Taliban take over of Kabul on Aug. 15, 2021.
Over the past few weeks since the massive evacuation from Kabul, many volunteers, including Filipinos working in Qatar, have been supporting the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in providing assistance in various compounds in Doha where refugees are currently staying.
One of the Filipinos who joined the mission thanked Minister Alkhater for allowing them to take part in helping the Afghan refugees.
“Thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to take part in your mission. We love Qatar, our second home,” said Filipino volunteer Maria Theresa Ponce.