Doha-based Humanitarian Funds of OIC, KSR sign co-operation pact

The Doha-based Humanitarian Funds of the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation (OIC) and the Kuwait Society for Relief (KSR) have signed a pact to explore a joint groundwork for promoting the level of the two parties' regional and global presence to make a real influence in the humanitarian action fields.The agreement aims to advance the capabilities of the two sides, increase their opportunities in capitalising on available resources, collaborate in qualitative programmes, projects and events, and to share expertise, information and knowledge between the two parties.Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Humanitarian Funds of OIC HE Sheikh Dr Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan al-Thani and Chairman of KSR, Dr Ibrahim al-Salehco-signed the co-operation agreement, in the presence of the two institutions' leaders.HE Sheikh Dr Abdulaziz said the humanitarian funds always seek to expand the base of partnerships with regional, global and UN organisations, including KSR which comprises numerous Kuwaiti societies, pointing out that Kuwait provided significant contributions in spearheading relief efforts of many countries of the world.His Excellency reiterated his thanks to Qatar in hosting the humanitarian funds that have had an effective and influential role in providing relief efforts worldwide, in collaboration with the international organisations, along with humanitarian partnerships globally with a range of humanitarian institutions in the world.Dr Ibrahim al-Saleh said the desire of KSR and the humanitarian funds of OIC has converged on the importance of advancing co-operation in humanitarian programmes and relief projects, in addition to sharing expertise, knowledge and information among the two institutions in the areas of humanitarian action and emergency response.KSR Treasurer Jamal al-Nouri affirmed that the co-operation areas will comprise the implementation of joint qualitative humanitarian initiatives and joining either the existing relief or humanitarian initiatives which include implementing initiatives jointly or individually, whether these initiatives are fully or partially funded jointly or funded by one party to the agreement.Among the co-operation areas stipulated in the agreement is that each party shall commit to allocating an amount of QR500.000 or its equivalent in Kuwaiti Dinars to support the initiative for rapid intervention in disasters, crises and emergencies, al-Nouri highlighted. Another clause of the agreement specifies co-operation in mobilising the necessary financial resources to cover some joint activities, programmes, and projects through mechanisms to be determined, he said.Executive Director of Humanitarian Funds of OIC Osman Abdulqader, said signing this agreement is part of the policy pursued by the humanitarian funds in collaborating with key institutions around the world, adding that the agreement emphasises that the objectives pursued by both parties embody the urgent need to elevate, direct and advance the humanitarian work, as both parties constitute a qualitative addition in their field, in addition to leveraging their resources, personnel and projects.He pointed out that the key purpose of this agreement is to find an integrated model that combines the two parties' efforts and elevates the work to the highest potential through synergy and collaboration, in the midst of the global evolution and inherent challenges facing humanitarian action, and thus precipitating the humanitarian workers to unify their efforts and harness the available potentials in order to overcome the joint hurdles and share field expertise. (QNA)