Muslim Aid Chairman, Sir Iqbal Sacranie, will attend an emergency meeting of international NGOs convened by the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) in Islamabad, Pakistan on 29 August 2010. The main agenda of this emergency meeting is to help coordinate flood relief and plan rehabilitation.

The meeting will be addressed by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Yousaf Raza Gillani, the OIC Secretary General, Professor Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu and will receive situational reports from the National Disaster Management Authority of Pakistan (NDMA), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), the Islamic Conference Humanitarian Affairs Department (OIC-ICHAD), and other international NGOs.
 

The meeting will also discuss the efforts to mobilise assistance and consider mechanisms for coordination and information sharing among NGOs and the Government. These deliberations will identify the current gaps, needs and challenges faced by relief organisations.
 

On his departure, Sir Iqbal Sacranie said: “With this unprecedented humanitarian crisis facing Pakistan, collaborative work with NGOs and the Government of Pakistan is a must for speediest and effective relief operations. Considering that over 8 million people have to be reached and put back on their feet, speed and efficiency are of utmost importance.”

Sir Iqbal further stated: “The international NGOs, central and provincial governments and most of all the Pakistani civil society have to come together as one big humanitarian family and help the people of Pakistan get through this catastrophe.”

During his visit, Sir Iqbal will also be visiting some of the worst affected regions where Muslim Aid Pakistan field office has already been carrying out its relief operations. Most recently Muslim Aid flew in 2 mobile hospitals to provide much needed medical services in otherwise remote rural areas.

- Ends –
 
Notes to Editors

•  For any media queries please contact Pakistan Media Officer Muhammed Haseeb Khalid on +00 92 51 210 2249 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . In the UK, please contact Communications Manager Michelle Davis on +44 0207 377 4200/ 07525925756 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  

• Muslim Aid is a UK based relief and development agency established in 1985 and working in over 70 countries with field offices in Bangladesh, Bosnia, Cambodia, Gambia, Indonesia, India,  Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Pakistan, Somalia, Sri Lanka and Sudan.  Muslim Aid works with all in need, regardless of their race, religion, gender, nationality or political opinion. Muslim Aid programmes include emergency relief; capacity building through water, sanitation and health programmes; education and skills training; micro-financing and income generation and orphan care. Apart from supplying practical help, Muslim Aid tackles poverty by developing sustainable solutions, advocating for a more just and sustainable future.  

•  For further information about the work of Muslim Aid and its overseas field branches, please visit Muslim Aid website at www.muslimaid.org and www.muslimaid.org.pk