ICRC President visits QRCS to promote mutual humanitarian cooperation
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ICRC President visits QRCS to promote mutual humanitarian cooperation

12/7/2020

H.E. Sheikh Abdullah bin Thamer Al Thani, President of Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS), met today Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), to discuss humanitarian issues of mutual interest. The meeting was attended by Ali bin Hassan Al-Hammadi, Secretary-General of QRCS, Eng. Ibrahim Abdullah Al-Malki, CEO of QRCS, Dr. Fawzi Oussedik, Head of International Relations and International Humanitarian Law, and Adel Al-Baker, Director of the Office of QRCS President. ICRC’s delegation comprised Omar Odeh, Head of Regional Delegation for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Elyse Mosquini, Advisor of the President, and Cherine Pollini, Head of Mission – Qatar. Sheikh Abdullah bin Thamer Al Thani welcomed Mr. Maurer and the delegation, who congratulated him for being elected as President of QRCS. They wished to intensify cooperation with QRCS and commended its contributions to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) control efforts both locally and internationally. Mr. Maurer particularly emphasized the growing role of volunteers: “This experience is a perfect example for other National Societies to consider, in order to see how QRCS managed the crisis so competently”. ICRC President promised to align all available resources to launch joint humanitarian operations in conflict zones. Both QRCS and ICRC have presence in Yemen, Somalia, Afghanistan, and many other countries. QRCS President valued the visit and thanked Mr. Maurer for his congratulations, as well as his praise of the volunteers, which coincided with the International Volunteer Day. “We are open to any initiatives that serve our universally embraced humanitarian goals,” said Sheikh Abdullah. The participants in the meeting agreed on expanding their partnership, which was described as “fruitful, solid, and growing over the years in Ethiopia, Sudan, and other regions, seeking effective solutions for such humanitarian crises”. Also, they agreed to further consolidate the channels of mutual communication and to have these issues discussed by their respective experts, towards a road map to bilateral humanitarian collaboration in the future.