Jeddah, October 26, 2023, The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the regional delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries convened a high-level brainstorming roundtable at the OIC headquarters in Jeddah. The event was titled "The Missing Persons During Conflicts and Disasters: Strengthening the Response in the OIC Countries" and is part of the ongoing implementation of the Cooperation Agreement and its subsequent Plan of Action, initially signed between the OIC and the ICRC regional delegation.
Ambassador Tareg Ali Bakheet, the OIC Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian, Social, and Cultural Affairs, underscored the role played by the OIC's General Secretariat in raising awareness and promoting effective responses to the challenge of missing persons in today's complex global environment marked by prolonged conflicts, violence, forced displacements, natural disasters, and extensive regional migrations. He also commended the ICRC's efforts in providing assistance and relief to the people of Gaza, especially during the ongoing crisis.
Mamadou Sow, the ICRC Head of Regional Delegation for the GCC countries, emphasized that addressing the issue of missing persons is not merely a duty but a humanitarian imperative. He stressed the importance of cooperation with countries in addressing this issue, highlighting that genuine progress requires resolute political will and adequate resources. Sow also drew attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where the urgency of the situation is acutely evident as families anxiously await news about the fate of their loved ones.
