The 9th Conference on Effective Partnership for Better Humanitarian Aid, titled ‘Humanitarian Partnership,’ launches an international initiative to enhance the response to humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip.
The International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO) and its Partners Launched Programs and Initiatives for Early Recovery in Gaza for the Next Two Years
Under the patronage of His Highness the Prime Minister of Kuwait, may God protect him, and in the presence of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs; Dr. Bader Hajar Al-Mutairi, the International Islamic Charitable Organization (IICO), in coordination with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and with the generous sponsorship of major local, regional and international organizations, organized the 9th Conference on Effective Partnership for Better Humanitarian Aid, titled ‘Humanitarian Partnership’, with the participation of many official bodies and humanitarian organizations.
The importance of this conference comes in view of the devastating humanitarian effects of the war currently taking place in the Gaza Strip, which has resulted, to date, in the deaths of more than 110,000 Palestinians, wounded and missing, the displacement of about 1.9 million displaced persons, and the destruction of 322,000 homes, 434 schools and universities, and dozens of hospitals, mosques, churches, and others of public and private establishments and infrastructure facilities, which led to the collapse of the economic situation in the Strip, as the cost of rebuilding Gaza was estimated at between $40 billion and $50 billion, according to the United Nations Development Programme.
The conference is inspired by the value of joint work and effective partnerships to contribute efficiently to achieving tangible goals in accelerating humanitarian development cooperation, building peace in emergencies, and working together to respond to humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip in a way that is reflected in global humanitarian efforts to maximize impact and achieve the desired results. The conference aims to monitor the reality of humanitarian needs in the Gaza Strip, mobilize the efforts of humanitarian organizations to provide relief and development programs and initiatives to meet those needs, and manage the process of effective humanitarian intervention in the Strip, by launching an international humanitarian initiative to announce early recovery programs over a period of two years.
The conference began with a speech by the representative of the ceremony’s sponsor, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs; Dr. Bader Hajar Al-Mutairi, in which he said: “At the beginning of my speech, I am honored to bring to you the greetings and appreciation of His Highness Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Emir of the country – may God protect and preserve him – and His Highness the Speaker of the Council Ministers, and their sincere prayers for your conference to succeed and achieve its desired humanitarian goals. He added that the State of Kuwait – its leadership, people and institutions – has been and will continue to be a pioneer in supporting Arab and Islamic issues and advocating for the legitimate and just rights of its people, most notably the issue of Palestine, the issue for which Kuwaiti support – over more than 7 decades – has constituted a history of solidarity, loyalty and emotional connection. With its events and sanctities, and at its heart is the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque.
In his opening speech, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the IICO, Dr. Abdullah Maatouq Al-Maatouq: “Amidst the extremely dangerous and delicate exceptional circumstances that the Gaza Strip is witnessing, the importance of this international humanitarian conference, comes to discuss the dimensions of the humanitarian crisis in the Strip destroyed by the war machine. And to participate in supporting the early recovery process in the post-disaster phase, and to devise effective solutions and sustainable mechanisms for reconstruction, to contribute to enabling about two million and 400 thousand Palestinians to return to their normal lives.” Dr. Al-Maatouq added that this conference is one of the organization’s charitable initiatives and programs in support of the humanitarian response efforts to the Palestinian crisis, noting that 54 relief, development, health and social projects have recently been completed, the allocations of which are estimated at 5.4 million dollars.
He continued: During this conference, we were keen to launch an international humanitarian initiative, under the name “SANAD”, to announce the humanitarian programs that each organization intends to implement in Gaza during the next two years, in a serious and effective partnership to contribute to strengthening humanitarian interventions and early recovery in the areas of relief and shelter. Reconstruction, health, education and economic empowerment.”
“This conference comes at a critical time for the people of Gaza, as this unbearable conflict – and the humanitarian nightmare it has unleashed – stretches into an eighth month,” said Joyce Msuya, the Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator. “Just as OCHA and our partners continue to call with one voice for safe and sustained access to all those in need in Gaza – we are also working hand in hand to build and strengthen the partnerships that are central to the response, now and once the war ends.”
Dr. Nabil Al-Aoun, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Al-Salam Association for Humanitarian and Charitable Works, said: “Al-Salam Society succeeded in this partnership with the Charitable Organization to support our brothers in Gaza. They have dispatched over 20 air cargo planes and 257 trucks carrying 6,705 tons of aid, including medical devices and equipment to support hospitals, 20 ambulances, and more than 6,000 tents and 1,000 beds, 258 portable toilets, huge electrical machines, 65 refrigerators powered by solar energy, various foodstuffs, and clothes. The society remains dedicated to ongoing aid shipments and aims to play a significant role in Gaza’s reconstruction once the conflict subsides.”
CEO of Qatar Charity, Yousef Al-Kuwari, said: “In light of the humanitarian crisis ravaging the Gaza Strip, Qatar Charity continues to provide a helping hand and assistance to our affected brothers there. We worked for 200 days through our relief interventions. We participated in sending 95 aircraft in partnership between Qatar Charity and the Fund.” Qatar Development and a number of charitable organizations estimated at 2,800 tons of aid, benefiting nearly 700,000 beneficiaries. We also distributed approximately 845 tons of food supplies, provided 1,600 tents, and more than 44,000 packages of medical supplies, shelter, and clothing. All of this is thanks to the support of benefactors from the State of Qatar, who continue to support… And support our brothers in Palestine.”
The Turkish Humanitarian Relief Organization representative’s remarks: “I extend my thanks to His Highness the Emir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Sabah, the International Islamic Charitable Organization headed by Dr. Abdullah Al-Maatouq, all the charitable institutions in Kuwait and the Kuwaiti people for the noble and distinguished charitable works they provide. Here I pray to God that His mercy may cover all the former princes who were sponsors of spreading this goodness to the world. Kuwait is an ambassador of goodness for us. Kuwait is a country and a nation that provided a helping hand to the entire world and served humanity. In Turkey, they stood by us, rebuilt homes, and extended a helping hand to those affected by the great earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria. They were and still are always by our side. The people of Palestine did everything they could of the available capabilities. Today, their noble work continues not only in Palestine, but we see Kuwait’s imprint throughout Africa and the whole world. It is an honor for us to continue our fruitful partnership with the Charitable Foundation. We have learned a lot from you, and I hope it will lead to great positive results for the benefit of serving humanity. On this occasion, I thank you all for your great efforts and wish you success, asking God Almighty to make this work sincere, to reward you with goodness in it, and to perpetuate your honorable position as an example for everyone to follow.”
Islamic Relief in Birmingham representative’s remarks: “We are honored to participate in this conference because what is happening in Gaza is an unprecedented and catastrophic situation. It is a crisis that we have never seen in our generations. Thousands of children are being bombed and starvation is being used as a weapon of war. It is very unfortunate that we are witnessing all of this in the world. There are millions of people on the brink of man-made famine across Gaza. Islamic Relief and its partners are putting their lives at risk and delivering vital aid to thousands of Palestinians. We hope that this crisis will end and that there will be a ceasefire now. Unfortunately, we have seen people die of hunger. The Islamic Relief Organization, in partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme, has so far provided 13 million meals, provided nutritional supplements to 75,000 women and children, and we have increased sponsorship for orphaned children to 11,000 children. But this is just a drop in the ocean “Because what we need is safe access to all affected communities in Gaza so that we can provide them with life-saving aid. On the occasion of this conference, I express my gratitude to the organizers, the International Islamic Charitable Organization and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, for bringing us together in this conference.”
The Al Khair Foundation in the United Kingdom representative’s remarks: “Today I address His Excellency the Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait, representatives of the United Nations, leaders of the Gulf and Arab countries, heads of humanitarian organizations. Humanity means serving each other at the expense of ourselves, and one of the requirements of humanitarian work is that there be accountability.” For the soul, we ask whether we have fulfilled this trust that God has bestowed upon us and our donors. As founder of the Charity Foundation in the United Kingdom, we believe that the Foundation’s donors are the cornerstone and we give them a mechanism to donate 100% to those in need. We have succeeded over the past years in providing more than $300 million in humanitarian aid In Gaza alone, during the past months, we sent more than 500 aid trucks and aircraft loads worth 35 million dollars, so I would like to leave a mark and impact on your hearts so that we are all encouraged to do charitable work in the service of humanity.”
The conference featured five sessions addressing various dimensions of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including aid delivery mechanisms, protection of civilians, and the urgent need to expand response efforts. Notably, during the closing session, an international humanitarian initiative, the Sanad Initiative, will be launched to enhance humanitarian interventions and early recovery in Gaza.
Participating organizations include governmental bodies, international agencies, humanitarian organizations, and charitable institutions, along with experts and specialists in humanitarian affairs. Strategic partners and sponsors for the conference include Rahma International Society, Human Appeal, Namaa Charity, Mbrat Alawazm Alkhiriah, Just Human, JordanHashemite Charity Organization, Warba Bank, Al-Rai Media Group, and Al-Anba Newspaper.
Prominent international bodies participating in the conference activities include the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the United Nations Human Settlements Program in the Arab Region (UN Habitat), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Medical Aid for the Palestinians (MAP), the Palestinian Red Crescent (PRCS) and other organizations.
