The OIC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Muslim Aid on Monday to enhance cooperation in the fields of humanitarian assistance and sustainable development.
Muslim Aid is a UK-based international relief and development organization working to alleviate poverty worldwide. The charity says it believes in sustainable, local and practical solutions to empower individuals and strengthen communities.
The MoU was signed by the OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and Muslim Aid Chairman Sir Iqbal Sacranie at the OIC headquarters in Jeddah. The MoU aims to achieve the common goal of alleviating the suffering of people in the Muslim world during natural disasters and emergency situations.
The OIC secretary-general, while welcoming the signing of the document with Muslim Aid, which operates in many OIC member states, said: “This would promote the objectives of the Ten-Year Program of Action, which calls for closer ties with Muslim minorities and organizations that represent them.”
Both organizations agreed to implement long-term sustainable development programs with a view to accelerating economic growth and social progress based on the principle of partnership and equality between people.
They also agreed to exchange information on issues of mutual concern in terms of developments and progress in activities and programs, and to ensure that both organizations benefit from the available expertise in the areas of relief and humanitarian assistance. The two sides pledged to cooperate in providing humanitarian assistance and advisory services to reduce damage caused by disasters and to respond to requests from OIC member states after taking into consideration available resources and adopted programs. Ihsanoglu said: “Starting from the current month, the British Muslim Aid will start cooperating with the OIC Department of Humanitarian Affairs in implementing the OIC humanitarian assistance program to help the Somali people.”
The OIC’s humanitarian department in association with NGOs in member countries was already carrying out projects worth $50 million in Somalia. The OIC has announced $2.78 million in aid for Somalia's drought-affected people. The group has also called on its member states and international community to deliver urgent humanitarian assistance to the African nation.
