General Commission of the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization holds its meeting in Damascus

Damascus, (ST) – The 48th session of the General Commission of the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization, which is being held by the Syrian Arab Red Crescent, began today at the Dama Rose Hotel in Damascus.

The Secretary-General of the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross (ARCO) Organization Saleh bin Hamad Al-Tuwaijri affirmed that Syria is recovering, but the human suffering of the Syrian people continues as a result of the repercussions of the war and the earthquake disaster.

Al-Tuwaijri said that the Syrian Arab Red Crescent did a tremendous job within difficult circumstances, and showed notable skill in providing aid without discrimination to all regions.

“We came to Syria invited by the Syrian Red Crescent to show everyone that we are one team and that joint Arab work is still fine,” Al-Tuwaijri added.

In turn, the head of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent Khaled Hiboubati pointed out that crises are moving throughout the Arab world and “we, in Syria, despite the lack of aid, we are determined to make every effort to secure different kinds of aid, so we ask our Arab brothers for help because we are one hand”, he said.

In a statement to journalists, the Head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Younis Al-Khatib stressed that what is happening in Palestine in general and Gaza in particular is a disgrace to the international community.

He pointed to the dire humanitarian situation after nine months, as the Palestinian people are still suffering under siege, in addition to the fact that the United Nations institutions are now threatened with stopping humanitarian work in Gaza due to threats to humanitarian workers and aid convoys entering Gaza, and the obstructions to most of these convoys.

Al-Khatib pointed out that medical teams and civilians are being targeted, and hospitals are being closed, destroyed or burned, as happened with the hospitals of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and most medical centers, and that thanks to the simple support that enters Palestine from some partners, institutions and countries, a small amount of medical care has been provided to patients and the wounded.

The meeting was accompanied by an exhibition entitled “Humanity of an Artist”, which includes paintings that reflect the human suffering resulting from wars and crises in Arab countries, and document the impact of humanitarian work and the heroism of volunteers.

It is worth noting that the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization “ARCO” is a regional organization, founded in 1975 and its General Secretariat is headquartered in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, and is formed of the national Red Crescent and Red Cross bodies and associations in 21 Arab countries.