GCC Red Crescent Societies, Authorities unify humanitarian position
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GCC Red Crescent Societies, Authorities unify humanitarian position

11/11/2020

Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) took part in the 16th Meeting of the Committee of Presidents of Red Crescent Societies/Authorities in the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf (GCC). Held remotely, the purpose of the meeting was to discuss ways to enhance joint GCC humanitarian action, review the current humanitarian issues, and unify positions and visions at international conferences and the coming Movement-level elections. QRCS was represented by H.E. Sheikh Abdullah bin Thamer Al Thani, President, Ali bin Hassan Al-Hammadi, Secretary-General, Dr. Fawzi Oussedik, Head of International Relations, Adel Al-Baker, Director of the Office of the President, and Zahra Adnan Lafi, Coordinator of International Humanitarian Law. Representatives of the Emirates Red Crescent Authority, Bahrain Red Crescent Society, the Saudi Red Crescent Authority, Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS), the Omani Authority for Charitable Activities, and the Secretariat-General of GCC. Sheikh Abdullah bin Thamer Al Thani greeted the participants and expressed condolences following the death of Bahrain's Sheikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, Prime Minister of Bahrain. They congratulated him for being elected as President of QRCS. After the approval of agenda, the meeting discussed a set of topics to further promote GCC humanitarian action in the face of current challenges, especially the Coronavirus pandemic. The participants approved the following: Secretariat-General’s report on COVID-19 control efforts in GCC countries, Committee’s Action Plan 2021-2025, Voluntary Action Award regulations, 2nd Annual GCC Forum to be held in Bahrain (April 2021), launch of GCC Red Crescent Day 2021 under the theme of “Giving Together”, a GCC workshop to train media professionals in humanitarian affairs to be held in Kuwait (February 2021). There was a follow-up on the joint committee implementing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the GCC Secretariat-General and the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization (ARCO). In the end, it was agreed to hold the Committee’s next meeting in Bahrain (February 2021).