UPDATE - Humanitarian cooperation in OIC meet starts in Istanbul

UPDATES WITH REMARKS BY SPEAKERS OF MEETING

By Adem Demir

ISTANBUL (AA) - A cooperation meeting on the establishment of network between the Red Crescent and Red Cross national societies in the region of Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) started in Istanbul on Monday.

Hosted by Turkish Red Crescent, the OIC Red Network meeting will establish a national societies network within the OIC region to reduce human suffering and vulnerabilities across the 57 member states.

“This network will strengthen the Red Crescent-Red Cross movement in the OIC region,” Kerem Kinik, the head of Turkish Red Crescent (Kizilay), told the opening address of the meeting.

"I believe that this meeting is an important opportunity to discuss our common responsibilities, share our experiences and unite our powers against the humanitarian problems within the OIC region," he added.

Kinik stated that majority of the conflicts in 2015 across the world were documented in the OIC region, which also hosts the 61.5 percent of the globally displaced population.

He also said that 71 percent, or some 90 million, of people who are in need of humanitarian support live in the OIC countries.

Also addressing the meeting, Gilles Carbonnier, the vice-president of International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said his committee is hopeful about the network.

“Most of our operations focus on the countries in the OIC region. The conflicts, crises and wars [in the region] have deep consequences. So, the cooperation … is important to overcome the problems,” he asserted.

Elhadj As Sy, secretary-general of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) called it a “huge mission” they assume in humanitarian aid.

“No association can do this alone. That is why we gathered here, we witness a new event," he said.

Separately, Ali Buhedma, the head of Islamic Committee of International Crescent (ICIC), expressed his appreciation for witnessing the NGOs uniting powers.

“Turkish Red Crescent plays a leading role in the world with its activities,” Buhedma said.

“We find it positive to establish a cooperation between the Red Cross and the Turkish Red Crescent in the new period,” he added.