BAKU, Azerbaijan, November 19. Humanitarian cooperation among the Red Crescent and Red Cross societies of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) member countries is essential to provide aid to victims of major emergencies and vulnerable populations, Erkebek Argymbayev, President of the Kazakhstan Red Crescent Society, said, Trend reports.
Argymbayev made the remark at a meeting of Red Crescent Network leaders from OTS member states in Baku.
He emphasized that the main goal of the Turkic Red Crescent Network is to unite efforts for mutual assistance during large-scale crises, including climate change, natural or man-made disasters, and armed conflicts.
“To fulfill this mission, we need to strengthen our capacity to become more effective and active in helping our citizens and countries in need,” he said.
Argymbayev highlighted the importance of OTS Secretary General Kurbanychbek Omuraliev’s presence at the meeting. He noted that national societies are established under the Geneva Conventions to support their countries in addressing specific humanitarian challenges, and that strengthening their capacity is impossible without state support.
He expressed confidence that the Baku Declaration, to be adopted by participants, will reflect a direct appeal to heads of state through the OTS secretary general.