HM the King receives participants in conference on humanitarian action

Manama, Nov. 1 (BNA): His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa today at Al-Safriya Palace received HM the King's Representative for charity Works and Youth Affairs, also Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Charity Organisation, HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who presented the participants in the Seventh Annual Conference for Effective Partnerships and Information Sharing For Better Humanitarian Action. The event was concluded earlier today and held under the patronage of HM the King, in collaboration with United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), he Organization of Islamic Cooperation's Humanitarian Funds and the Royal Charity Organisation (RCO). More than 250 officials working in the humanitarian field and charity and relief organisations from various countries of the world participated in the event. HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad, in his speech, said that new solutions and ideas have been reached through the conference to contribute to the activation of the roles and the delivery of the humanitarian aid to the needy. UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, Stephen O'Brien, started his speech by thanking HM the King on behalf of the participants for patronizing the conference. He conveyed the greeting of the UN Secretary-General to HM the King, as well as his father's regards, who was in charge of building the Military Hospital in 1975-1976. He pointed out the Bahraini youth who are the top priority of the government of Bahrain. He noted the challenges faced by the Gulf countries and the good opportunities available. He said the conference has offered great chance to establish partnerships that will benefit all parties. RCO Secretary-General Dr. Mustafa Al-Sayed said that the conference focused on many significant topics related to the development of the humanitarian work. He pointed out Bahrain's humanitarian aid to the Syrian refugees in Jordan five years ago and the Royal directives on building four schools in three weeks to take in 9 thousand students in collaboration with the Jordan Hashemite Charity Organization. A Syrian refugee student Malak Farouq Al-Shooli of Zaatari refugee camp said she arrived to the camp without books nor pencils and many more Syrian kids like her situation who have lost hope of getting education, but thanks to the Bahrain Scientific Complex in Zaatari Camp which achieved all hopes of the Syrian kids there, thank you Your Majesty. Addressing the gathering, HM King Hamad said that the consensus on a cooperation programme should lead to successes with benefits for all. He added that the follow up on regular and routine matters makes heavy demands on people and requires patience and fortitude from them, stressing that the demands and pressures increase in challenging, remote and difficult areas. However, people become more motivated and stimulated to work harder in such conditions, he added. HM the king paid tribute to Mustafa Al Sayyed, saying that he had been to several challenging places and had made several contributions and presented various ideas while keeping his smile. This smile is in fact the strength and resolve needed for real work in this field because the situations and conditions are not simple and people have to accept them with a positive sentiments and good feelings, HM the King added. A person driven by humanitarian motives will certainly be genuinely happy with the efforts he exerts in the field, HM King Hamad said, adding that "our only goal is pleasing God and serving our dear sons and daughters." HM the King said that the world has become an interconnected village thanks to the advances in technology and communication. Whatever is happening in remote places seems like it is happening next to you, and we now hear about accidents and issues happening at the other end of the world and we feel for the people because we are quite familiar with the events that are affecting them, he said. HM the King said that all people should contribute to humanitarian work and to seek to please God through it. The visit by the participants from various countries to Bahrain is an opportunity to witness the achievements accomplished by Bahrain, he added. "These are not simple achievements by the people of Bahrain in all areas. In fact, they indicate the highest levels that can be reached in any civilized country. It is all based on education," he said. HM the King said he was particularly proud that 63 per cent of women in Bahrain were university graduates while the others have degrees from their experiences in real life. The social skills they acquired can be more valuable than the degrees from universities, he said. "Women represent 53 per cent of the state employees, and this is a good rate," he said, adding that no other country had reached such an advanced level. Women in the private sector represent 40 per cent of the force, and Bahraini women are involved in all professions, he added. HM the King said that Bahrain had a highly developed society that was able to confront successfully the challenges posed by inciters. These people do not target failed states, but rather only successful states, and their incitement is strong evidence that the Kingdom of Bahrain is a successful and advanced country, he said. HM the King briefed the participants about Bahrain’s achievements in several areas thanks to the people, the laws, the state management and communication. The merit also goes to friendly states and other countries. He said that whenever Bahrain received commercial or economic support from friends or others and the support was handed over to dedicated people, the results are always positive and successful. "This is what is happening in Bahrain," HM the King said. King Hamad said that women represented the largest voting bloc in the parliamentary elections, stressing that 57 percent of the voters were women. The voting bloc in Bahrain is the largest in the region, including Iran, in terms of rate, he said, adding that countries that do not want to see Bahrain succeed work on stalling development and progress in the kingdom. HM the King said that unemployment did not exceed 3 percent, stressing that the percentage was very low and adding that the unemployed received salaries under an unemployment programme. HM the King said that economic development required the conjugated efforts of all parties, stressing that it was not solely the responsibility of the government. "It is a societal partnership based on work and efforts." King Hamad said that Arabs possessed more principles and values than what is being said by the international community. HM the King said that Bahrain was renowned for its co-existence and tolerance, a reputation compiled over hundreds of years. He added that Bahrain used to be called Dilmun and that it was known historically as the harbor of the world that linked civilisations. The large boats and vessels of the world and civilisations used to pass through the port of Bahrain, and people who liked the place often decided to live on the island. HM the King said that one reason for Bahrain’s success and development was the migration into the country and not emigration from it. Bahrainis love Bahrain and foreigners who live here become fond of Bahrain and like Bahrainis, he said. Foreigners outnumber Gulf nationals in the GCC countries, and this is an indication that the GCC countries have reached an international standard. HM the King said that good words and deeds invariably defeated evil and negative words or actions. Good deeds are the basis in our lives and the best actions by each one should be towards people because if we succeed in this matter, then we will succeed in all other matters, HM the King said.