Two committees have already been formed at the business chambers in Jeddah and Riyadh. Adnan bin Hussein Mandourah, acting secretary-general of the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI), presided over a meeting of the Jeddah committee recently.

“This committee aims to support the Saudi Red Crescent Authority by providing humanitarian assistance to accident victims,” Mandourah said.

The meeting was aimed at exchanging ideas and discussing new proposals to strengthen the 13-member committee and promote its humanitarian activities with the support of businessmen and philanthropists.

Dr. Khaled Al-Habshi, director general of the authority in the Makkah province and the committee’s deputy chairman, disclosed plans to increase its membership to 18 after including new members. “We’ll also set up a working team of volunteers from within the committee and outside,” he said, adding that it would play a big role in social service.

“We intend to carry out a variety of activities and programs beneficial to society,” he added.

The meeting discussed prospects of establishing a fund for collecting donations, holding various activities and hosting relevant programs.

Al-Habshi highlighted the progress achieved by the Red Crescent under the leadership of Prince Faisal bin Abdullah.

“The authority has achieved qualitative development in its services by launching an air ambulance system. It has enabled the Red Crescent to take accident victims to hospitals within a few minutes.”

Al-Haqabani praised the chamber for its efforts to set up the committee. He disclosed plans to establish similar panels at all chambers. “We hope all chambers would take the initiative to form them.”

The meeting was also attended by Mutlak Al-Hazmi, director of the business sector and committees at the JCCI.