QRCS Hosts GCC Red Crescent Media Delegations

Doha, May 02 (QNA) - Qatar Red Crescent Society (QRCS) is hosting the fourth field visit by delegations of Red Crescent societies of the Cooperation Council for Arab States of the Gulf (GCC), as per the recommendations of the 1st meeting of the GCC Red Crescent Media Officials Meeting held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December 2015. Held under the theme of 'Preparation of Media Workers in Crises and Disasters', the visit includes delegations from the UAE Red Crescent, Bahrain Red Crescent Society, and Oman Charitable Organization (OCO), as well as participants from QRCS and the GCC Secretariat-General. The event's agenda involves introduction to QRCS, the role of the Communication Department's role in serving humanitarian causes locally and abroad, joint GCC humanitarian programs, training and case study on media in disasters, print and audiovisual productions of the Communication Department, what audiovisual media can do for humanitarian advocacy with a focus on Syrian Madaya, the role of International Humanitarian Law (OHL) in promoting humanitarian causes, and online tools of publicizing and marketing humanitarian activities. In his opening remarks, Saleh bin Ali Al-Mohannadi, QRCS Secretary-General, gave an overview of QRCS's humanitarian strategy and its slogan of 'Saving Lives.. Preserving Dignity'. "Besides the fact that our strategy reflects a different humanitarian reality that we want to face and change, it also reflects a different QRCS that has grown in capabilities and stature, which enables it to work, collaborate, initiate, and even lead a real change in the humanitarian reality for the better," said Al-Mohannadi. Badr Al-Zubairi, Head of QRCS Section, GCC Secretariat-General, stated, "Joint media work is a top priority for GCC Red Crescent societies. This is the first visit to be hosted by QRCS, with a view to preparing a young media cadre that is competent enough to give a voice to the humanitarian, relief, and voluntary work of GCC National Societies". Over the coming two days, the GCC delegations will visit some media institutions to have an idea about the major tools of raising humanitarian awareness, followed by a visit to Al-Jazeera. The event will be closed with distribution of certificates to the participants. (QNA)