“IIROSA has been instrumental in providing assistance and relief to millions of poor people and victims of civil wars, ethnic conflicts and natural calamities in different parts of the world,” Al-Turki said while presiding over a meeting of the organization’s general assembly, which was attended by prominent personalities.
He commended IIROSA for winning the ISO 9001:2008 quality certification, which is granted to organizations in recognition of their outstanding performance. “We have also registered IIROSA in major international websites,” he said referring to Facebook and Twitter.
The meeting discussed proposals to improve relief activities around the world, matching with modern developments. It also endorsed the final accounts for 2010, which was audited in accordance with international standards. The participants watched a documentary on IIROSA and its achievements.
Speaking to Arab News, Adnan Khalil Basha, IIROSA secretary-general, said the meeting was a success in terms of good participation and decisions. He described the ISO certification as a big achievement, saying that it was a result of the organization’s strategic plans. Winning ISO9001:2008, an international quality management wtandard, reflects an organization’s ability to meet its customer's requirements efficiently.
“The participants commended our efforts to complete auditing of our accounts in accordance with international standards,” Basha said. It will contribute to strengthening the organization’s credibility and enhancing its international reputation. He said external auditor Ernst & Young was satisfied with IIROSA’s financial procedures and operations. He said the delegates also called for greater publicity of the organization’s activities and training of its staff members.
The IIROSA chief underscored his organization’s accomplishments in 2010. “We have extended financial assistance worth SR10.83 million to the poor and needy inside the Kingdom last year, benefiting more than 33,750 people,” Basha said.
IIROSA also helped some 2.9 million people in 58 countries, sponsored 29,296 orphans in 21 Asian, African and European countries and implemented 47 health projects, he said, adding that it runs 30 orphanages. It supports 39 educational institutions and programs in addition to four vocational centers benefiting 39,244 students. It distributed 147,000 kg of foodstuffs, clothing, medicines and other relief supplies among nearly 300,000 victims of calamities.
IIROSA last year launched six new real estate endowment projects consisting of residential towers in Makkah at a cost of SR500 million. Proceeds from the projects would be used to finance its activities. These projects generate annual revenue of SR45 million.
Syed Shah Khusro Hussaini, a general assembly member from India, underscored IIROSA’s achievements over the past years. “I feel that IIROSA’s activities should be given greater publicity in order for people all over the world to know its tremendous contributions for the welfare humanity and its efforts to serve victims of natural and man-made calamities,” said Hussaini, who runs 15 educational institutions, including a medical college and an engineering college in Karnataka.
