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UN and Islamic bloc reach humanitarian partnership deal

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos
Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos

UN and Islamic bloc reach humanitarian partnership deal

The United Nations signed an agreement today with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to work together more closely on humanitarian issues, from relief coordination to fundraising and preparedness for disasters and crises.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Valerie Amos, who is also UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, signed the agreement with Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, the Secretary-General of the OIC, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Ms. Amos said the agreement would formalize existing plans to cooperate more with OIC to save lives at a time of growing humanitarian emergencies in the region.

The agreement includes a framework for regular dialogue and information exchanges between the OIC and the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).