The Organization of the Islamic Cooperation (OIC) launched recently a humanitarian campaign under the slogan “Days of Giving” to raise financial aid for the famine-hit people of Somalia. The United Nations has officially declared famine in a number of areas in Somalia for the first time this century, including in Mogadishu and four southern Somali regions, and warned that the famine could spread. The campaign was launched on Facebook after Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, OIC Secretary-General, announced in Turkey last month the formation of an OIC alliance for relief to coordinate humanitarian action in Somalia. “In view of the drastic humanitarian situation in Somalia, we have a huge responsibility toward the affected people to do our utmost to help them. “To this end, I strongly appeal to the Ummah, the member states, financial institutions, civil society, and philanthropists to generously contribute to this campaign being led by the OIC, especially during the holy month of Ramadan,” Ihsanoglu said at the conclusion of the Alliance of OIC Relief Organizations which was held in Istanbul. Some 17 humanitarian organizations from different parts of the Muslim world participated in the meeting. Ihsanoglu highlighted the magnitude of the disaster suffered by the people in Somalia, pointing out that the OIC will embark on distribution of aid to about 40,000 affected people in Afgooye corridor, in accordance with an agreement signed between the OIC and the World Food Program. He said that 60,000 more people are now receiving food aid in a process which is being undertaken under the umbrella of the OIC. He expressed his profound appreciation for the generous donation announced by King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, who allocated an amount of $60 million to provide urgent aid to Somalia. The OIC has formed an alliance of Humanitarian Partners to provide emergency relief to Somalia. The partners include the Saudi Red Crescent Society, International Islamic relief Organization (IIRO), World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) and Islamic Solidarity Fund. __
