Govt to seek compensation for damages from blockade

Qatar has announced the formation of a committee to pursue compensation potentially worth billions of dollars for damages stemming from the blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia and its allies in the Gulf crisis.

Ali bin Fetais Al-Marri, Qatar’s attorney general, told reporters on Sunday in the capital Doha that the Compensation Claims Committee would handle claims made by private companies, including major firms such as Qatar Airways, public institutions and individuals.

He also said the body would use both domestic and international mechanisms to seek compensation, and will hire overseas law firms to handle its claims.

“You have people who have sustained damages, businessmen who have sustained damages, banks which have sustained damages. As a result of this blockade,” Al-Marri said.

“And those who compelled these damages to happen must pay compensation for them.”