The International Islamic Relief Organization-Saudi Arabia (IIROSA) honored consuls-general of African countries at a reception on Wednesday.

Secretary-General Ehsaan Saleh Taieb welcomed the consuls and described the meeting as an important gathering of people with similar objectives.

“The consuls are cooperating with us and facilitating our mission. We are proud to be with them under one roof,” he said.

“IIROSA is working in the humanitarian field which requires support from everyone. The consuls play a key role in helping us carry out this noble message,” he said.

Taieb stressed that unbiased charity work aims to maintain solidarity among people irrespective of race or creed. “Humanitarian work must continue as long as there are widows, orphans, poor, needy, sick people, persons with special needs and victims of disasters and calamities,” he said.

The IIROSA secretary-general highlighted some of IIROSA projects in African countries. He said 28 African countries have received special assistance for the benefit of around 50 million persons. The emergency relief department has spent around SR16 million in 2014 to the victims in nine African countries for the benefit of 706,210 persons.

IIROSA sponsors orphans in 14 African countries. More than 32,000 male and female orphans are staying with their families, while the rest are accommodated in six orphanages in Uganda, Tanzania, Malawi, Sudan and Somalia as well as seven social centers in Sudan.

The educational welfare program has made many accomplishments in Africa. Scholarships and assistants were provided to 52 male and female students belonging to 10 nationalities in many specializations. IIROSA has sponsored 20 teachers and coordinators in seven African countries.

IIROSA has conducted many health caravans and surgical programs in 16 African countries in addition to participation in supporting, running and operating 20 health projects. It also has organized medical caravans in the Eritrean refugee camps in east Sudan for the benefit of 3,475 male and female patients. About 90 open heart surgeries and catheterizations and 25 urology surgeries were performed in Sudan.

Taieb said IIROSA constructed 1,212 mosques and 2,963 artesian and surface wells in 22 African countries benefting 1,122,000 people.

Through the Program of Community Development and Seasonal Projects, IIROSA has implemented various seasonal projects in 22 African countries during the past two years. The beneficiaries of Ramadan free meal program reached 176,902, while Eid sacrificial meat distribution program 1,371,501 individuals.

The consuls praised IIROSA’s humanitarian work, particularly the emergency relief campaign in some of the African countries. The invitees watched a documentary film featuring IIROSA’s achievements.