DOHA: The State of Kuwait and its people are always keen to support charitable activities across the Arab and Islamic worlds , said a senior Kuwaiti figure in charity work on Monday.

Abdulwahab Al-Houthi, the advisor to the chairman of Kuwait's International Islamic Charitable Organization, was speaking after his participation at the annual meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conferences (OIC) humanitarian organizations, which concluded its activities here on Monday night.

The official noted the participants at the event had recalled Kuwait's active and full-fledged support and presence in the field of charity work. He said that Kuwait's hosting of the headquarters of International Islamic Charitable Organization upon an Amiri Decree issued by the late Amir, Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, had served to further encourage and invigorate charity work in Kuwait and in the Islamic world at large.

On the newly-concluded event, he said it had been a valuable opportunity for bodies in the field to exchange views and expertise to facilitate smoother and more effective aid and charity work.

The code of ethics for charity workers approved at the end of the gathering would serve as a building block for stronger charity work, Al-Houthi said, explaining that the document principally focuses on the "pure humanitarian nature of charity work", and on ensuring transparency in all charitable activities.

The senior official praised the OIC for giving charitable organizations observer status, which in turn has lent their activities international legitimacy and support. For charity efforts to succeed, one must shun political interests and motivation, he concluded.

A number of prominent charity organizations participated in the meeting, including the Kuwait Red Crescent Society (KRCS), the International Islamic Charitable Organization and other bodies. The sessions covered two main themes; co-operation between the humanitarian bodies in disaster preparedness and response in the Islamic world, and strengthening cooperation between the humanitarian organizations and the OIC.

The topics were addressed in regular sessions, as well as workshops, and addressed conditions in Gaza, Darfur, Iraq, Yemen, Somalia and Niger.
The two-day event was organized in cooperation between the OIC's Humanitarian Affairs Department and a Qatari Charity under the slogan 'Together for Effective Solidarity.' - Kuwait Times