OIC Secretariat presents its commitments to the World Humanitarian Summit
Date
5/22/2016 3:35:55 AM
(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))
JEDDAH, 21st May, 2016 (WAM) -- The Secretariat of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) will be participating in the first-ever World Humanitarian Summit (WHS), which will take place in Istanbul, Turkey on 23rd and 24th May.
OIC Secretary-General, Iyad Ameen Madani will be addressing the plenary session, a leader's roundtable on preventing and ending conflict and he will speak at two special sessions, one on Islamic social finance and the other on Regional action to address humanitarian challenges.
Mr. Madani indicted that the OIC Secretariat is willing to present its commitments within the framework of the report of the UN Secretary General presented to the Summit to assist UN efforts in addressing the fast deteriorating global humanitarian situation.
These commitments fall under the five main pillars that will be addressed at the Summit: preventing and ending conflicts, upholding the norms that safeguard humanity, addressing forced displacement, meeting people's humanitarian needs including those of women and children, and finally investing in humanitarian work.
"The OIC is a unique organisation in as far as humanitarian issues are concerned as it includes amongst its members some of the most generous global humanitarian donors and at the same time a number of countries that constitute the biggest humanitarian challenge for the international community," said the Secretary-General.
He pointed out that seven out of the ten largest refugee populations are hosted by OIC Member States. Furthermore, the needs of its members vary across the spectrum of humanitarian needs from those generated by political crises and protracted conflicts to recurrent crises and countries that are vulnerable to various kinds of natural disasters.
The OIC Secretariat aims to capitalise on the culture and traditions of Islamic giving in humanitarian action to save lives, alleviate the suffering of those in need and to support the efforts of national and local humanitarian organisations.
"The OIC Secretariat will work closely with its Member States to address the issues that will be raised at the WHS, as they will have profound implications on their interests and on the future of humanitarian action," said the Secretary-General.
WAM/Hazem/AAMIR