(Al-Bireh – 14/11/2018): PRCS’ President Dr. Younis Al Khatib chaired the Society’s delegation to the 10th IFRC Asia Pacific Regional Conference which took place in Manila from 11 to 14 November 2018. Al Khatib was accompanied by Ms. Tania Shawar, Head of International Cooperation, and Mr. Mahdi Al Jamal, Head of the Youths’ Section at PRCS.
The Asia Pacific Regional Conference is held every four years with the participation of more than 300 delegates representing 51 National Societies from the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific. It discusses urgent humanitarian and development-related matters affecting the region. The theme of this year’s Conference was “Engaging local humanitarian action in a fast-changing world” where natural disasters and conflicts prevail.
Speaking at the Conference, Dr. Al Khatib said: “This year, PRCS marks its 50th anniversary. We have been present in Palestine since 1910 and have carried out our humanitarian duty despite all difficulties and conflicts”. Al Khatib commended the role played by volunteers in medical posts along Gaza’s borders as well as on the frontlines and in all fields. He recalled the more than 200 martyrs killed in the line of duty.
Francesco Rocca, President of the IFRC, underlined the need to change the way humanitarian work is carried out in order to overcome the humanitarian challenges facing the world. He called for better understanding of the needs of affected populations and for the creation and development of teams of volunteers as well as for new humanitarian partnerships. Technological developments, he said, need to be harnessed to improve and increase the effectiveness of humanitarian action, including in the fields of health information gathering, disaster anticipating and damage control.
Nine Arab National Societies from Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Bahrain, Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Iraq and Lebanon took part in this Conference alongside representatives from ICRC and the Arab Red Cross and Red Crescent Organisation (ARCO).
Dr. Al Khatib chaired the session on international partnerships, while members of his delegation took part in several other events including a discussion session on the situation of youths in Asia and the Pacific and another on increasing resilience in cooperation with volunteers, local communities and partners.
At the end of the Conference, participants adopted the Manila Declaration, a four-year humanitarian action program for IFRC in Asia and the Pacific.
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