Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF) Executed 2275 Projects in 135 Countries

The Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr. Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen has approved the provision of financial, developmental and educational assistance for a number of Member States and some Muslim communities through the Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF), which featured programs in several countries including Niger, Palestine, Ecuador, Lebanon, Mali, Ethiopia, and Uganda. Dr. Al-Othaimeen, said in a statement on Tuesday, October 15, 2019 that the assistance provided underscore the OIC solidarity with the Member States and standing with Muslim communities around the world, in fulfilling its lofty message. The OIC Islamic Solidarity Fund’s vision is to promote the intellectual and moral level of the Muslim peoples in the world, and provide material assistance to Muslim communities to support them socially and culturally. The Fund also provides urgent humanitarian assistance to Islamic states and Muslim communities that are exposed to disasters and crises. The Islamic Solidarity Fund (ISF) was established by virtue of a resolution issued by the second Islamic Summit Conference which was held in the city of Lahore in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in 1974, in response to a concept suggested by the late King Faisal Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in favour of setting up a Fund that would build up solidarity among the Islamic peoples and that would operate as a subsidiary organ of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. The Fund has executed and financed, since its establishment until the end of the current year 2019, 2775 projects to the tune of 236 million US Dollars, benefiting 135 countries, which projects have since doubled in their value as waqf assets. The ISF depends in its financial resources on voluntary donations from the Member States, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia having registered generous contributions amounting to 117 million US$. The ISF’s financial resources also derive, in part, from the Member States’ mandatory contributions to its operating budget. Projects carried out by the ISF include the university sector in which it invested 87 million dollars for the benefit of 92 universities and faculties across the world, foremost of which those universities which operate under the OIC’s umbrella such as the Islamic university in Uganda, the Islamic university in Niger, and the like. ISF projects also included the emergency sector with the extension of assistance in kind and in cash to a number of Muslim communities in 59 states, that were hit by natural disasters or crises, besides as other sector concerning assistance to the Palestinian people which reached a total of 27.5 million US dollars. Other diverse sectors also benefited from the ISF’s contributions including the sectors of information, women and child affairs, mosques, schools, Muslim youth nurturance, scientific seminars, workshops and Dawa programmes, aside from the Islamic

universities sector.

The General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) expressed sadness as massive wildfires raged through AlChouf area in the Mount Lebanon Range, causing severe damage to homes and businesses. The General Secretariat expressed full solidarity with the government and people of Lebanon, offering compassion for the families affected and prayers for prompt recovery to the wounded. In the same vein, the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen, has expressed his dismay following torrential rains that resulted in deadly floods and landslide across some African countries, which brought massive destruction and loss of lives in Somalia, Cameroon, Central African Republic and Nigeria, resulting in massive displacements of populations in the four countries. On Pakistan, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), H.E. Dr. Yousef A. Al-Othaimeen, expressed his deep condolences to the Government and people of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, following the train fire accident, which resulted in many deaths and injuries. The Secretary General extended his condolences to the families of the victims and wished prompt recovery to the injured.