‘IIROSA will not downsize humanitarian activities’

The International Islamic Relief Organization Saudi Arabia (IIROSA), the largest Islamic charity in the Kingdom, has rejected claims that it is short of funds and plans to downsize its humanitarian activities.
Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdul Mohsin Al-Turki, president of the IIRO’s board of directors, said the organization has expanded its scope of work. He was speaking Wednesday at the third annual ceremony in the Diplomatic Quarter to honor diplomats accredited to Saudi Arabia.
He said the IIROSA has been “privileged” since its inception to have the support of Saudi Arabia under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah and Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense.
He said there is strict control over the IIROSA’s revenues and expenses, to ensure that money is spent on in need individuals and communities irrespective of cast, creed, gender and religious affiliation. The IIROSA continues to provide these communities with food, medication, clothes, housing, and their educational and social needs. In his speech, Peter Ford, commissioner general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) and the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees, said his organizations have been working closely with the IIROSA for many years.
“One of UNRWA’s most appreciated programs in Gaza is a job creation scheme. In our first cooperation with IIROSA in 2008 the organization contributed $1 million to this program, which allowed us to create 1,399 short term jobs, much needed in an economy under siege,” he said.
“In our second Gaza collaboration the IIROSA very quickly came forward with funds to enable UNRWA to buy 50 generators during the period of the Israeli attack on Gaza from December 2009 to January 2010. Most of the generators were given to schools.”
Khayyam Akbar, deputy chief of mission at the Pakistan Embassy, praised the IIROSA's work in Pakistan during disasters and floods. It has provided the country with hospitals, buildings, schools and houses, he said.