Doha, February 18 (QNA) - The State of Qatar and the United Kingdom (UK) launched Sunday a new co-funding initiative for international development cooperation and humanitarian response.

The initiative was launched in Doha during a meeting chaired by HE Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater and HE Minister of State for Development in the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Andrew Mitchell.

In a recorded speech, HE the Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the State of Qatar and the UK have jointly allocated USD 50 million to address the most pressing humanitarian and development challenges, which reflects their shared responsibility for responding to crises on a global scale.

Her Excellency hailed the launch of the initiative as a testimony to the lasting partnership between the two countries.

Since Oct. 16, 2023, the State of Qatar has set up an air bridge to Egypt's El-Arish for urgent aid and relief delivery into the Gaza Strip with the help of its international partners, including the UK, France and Egypt, along with humanitarian agencies such as the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), Her Excellency said. (QNA)