The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) marked World Humanitarian Day in Jeddah on Tuesday, bringing together regional and international partners to reaffirm collective efforts in crisis response and humanitarian relief.
Participants included the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and Türkiye’s Disaster and Emergency Management Authority (AFAD).
OIC Secretary-General Hissein Ibrahim Taha underlined the organization’s commitment to the values of mercy and solidarity rooted in Islam, noting that the creation of the Humanitarian Affairs Department within the OIC was designed to bolster coordination, address crises, and preserve human dignity.
“Humanitarian action is a shared responsibility,” he said, stressing that international cooperation can save lives and build a more just future for the peoples of the Islamic world and humanity at large.
In a recorded address, Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of KSrelief Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah emphasized the growing scale of global humanitarian challenges.
He noted that the number of displaced people and refugees worldwide had exceeded 122 million by April 2025. “Humanitarian action has become a necessity, not an option,” he said, reaffirming the Kingdom’s commitment to providing relief and assistance to afflicted communities across the globe.
Al Rabeeah said Saudi Arabia has provided more than $141 billion in humanitarian and development aid worldwide, of which around $124 billion has gone to OIC member states, with Gaza receiving priority support.
Gaza will remain at the forefront of the Kingdom’s humanitarian agenda, he vowed.
