Kuwait City: The Secretary-General of the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS), Fahad Al-Mandil, stated that the Red Crescent societies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have established themselves as significant supporters of humanitarian initiatives both regionally and globally. They have become exemplary in their generosity and relief efforts, integrating humanitarian work into their foreign policy and development strategies. Al-Mandil made these remarks during a speech at the opening of the senior officials' meeting of the Red Crescent bodies and societies in the GCC countries, a two-day event held in Kuwait. He emphasized, "We meet today amid growing humanitarian challenges such as displacement crises, natural disasters, and escalating conflicts, which make the role of our societies more vital and urgent than ever before."
According to Kuwait News Agency, Al-Mandil expressed the necessity of strengthening cooperation and coordination among the GCC Red Crescent societies. He highlighted that this collaboration is essential, not optional, and looked forward to discussing joint action plans, exchanging successful experiences, and setting priorities to ensure effective and flexible responses to the needs of the communities they serve. He also mentioned the severe humanitarian situations in regions such as Gaza, Sudan, Lebanon, Somalia, and Syria, calling for urgent international action to relieve civilian suffering.
Engineer Abdullah Al-Rubaie, Head of the Human and Environmental Affairs Sector at the GCC General Secretariat, underscored the significance of coordination between Gulf societies, bodies, and the GCC Secretariat concerning relief aid and the unification of positions. Al-Rubaie noted that the meeting would address several critical issues related to national societies in the Gulf region, their future strategies, and areas of humanitarian cooperation. The agenda included discussions on strengthening existing partnerships, reviewing joint action plans, and enhancing mechanisms for humanitarian work on an international scale.
The meeting concluded with recommendations to be presented to the heads of the Red Crescent bodies and societies in the GCC countries during their forthcoming meeting.