TRIPOLI,
November 24 (WICS) - With human sufferings variously
increasing day in and day out, the need for providing
help, organizing aid work and supporting humanitarian
institutions is becoming urgent, to say the least.
Supervisor
of Aid programs by the World Islamic Call Society, Dr.
Abdul Salam Al-Swaisy, sees that Islam honors man,
regardless of religion or race, Islam is a mercy for all
mankind, therefore, Islamic aid work should not and is
not limited in accordance with religion or race.
"Islam
as a religion is a mercy for all mankind. It honors man
regardless of race, religion or color. It urges
providing help to those in need. Islam calls on Muslims
to be there for others, to relieve their pains and
restore hope to depressed or oppressed souls."
Based
on the above, according to the senior WICS official, aid
medical convoys have been sent forth since early
eighties by the WICS, offering medical help, in addition
to tons of food stuff, blankets, tents…etc.
These
aid convoys target rural areas, jungles, villages and
remote residential areas.
Role
of Aid Convoys
The
harsh circumstances of today force the WICS to double
its efforts, especially in the field of medical aid and
urgent medical services.
During
the period of 2000-2004, statistics show that some 40
aid convoys have been sent out, at a rate of six medical
staff per convoy, that is to say 240 persons took part,
according to Swaisy.
"Workdays
covered by those convoys amounted to 522, during which
humanitarian help reached some 200.000 persons, medical
services amounted to 150.000 cases, including
surgeries."
The
Society further supervises and runs a number of health
and aid utilities, such as Al-Fatih Hospital in Benin,
Medical Clinics in Kotabato City, (Philippines),
Kandhar, (Afghanistan), Northern Caucasus, in addition
to Delivery Clinics in Motutu, Guinea.
Coordination
Needed
Touching
on the current problems and crises engulfing the whole
world, especially the Muslim world, Dr Swaisy said
individual initiatives to provide aid or even work by
individual institutions or organizations could never be
effective, let alone enough.
"In
the World Islamic Call Society, we realize that fact and
work in its light. There is a tendency to double
cooperation with international aid institutions, as we
know there is a huge gap between real needs on the
ground of aid work and what is already offered by all
aid groups.
"WICS
has enlarged its cooperation and coordination with the
United Nations Higher Commission for Refugees (UNHCR),
especially after the two sides signed a partnership
agreement in 2000, during a visit to Tripoli by the
UNHCR's assistant manager for southwest Asia and North
Africa."
Swaisy
added the WICS has also attended a workshop in Tunisia
and organized, in collaboration with the UNHCR, two
workshops in the Libyan capital to define refugee and
the act itself in Islam.
The
Society further provides the UNHCR with some help on
both local and international levels.
According
Dr. Swaisy, the WICS also participated in a workshop in
Cairo in 2003 on combating blindness in the Middle East
and bases of cooperation with the concerned organization
in detecting eye infections in the countries where the
Society works.
In
addition, there is a consultative cooperation and
coordination between the WICS and the UNISEF, Red Cross,
Union of International Red Crescent and Red Cross
Societies, Gaddafi International Institution for Charity
Societies, and Libyan National Committee for Aid.
On
the total volume of aid provided by the WICS world wide,
Dr. Swaisy said that during the period 2000-2004,
5.793.000 US$ have been spent on aid and refugees. In
addition, some 1.703.000 US$ were spent on medical
convoys and over 4 million dollars were allocated to aid
programs.
