The budgetary constraints, he said, was mainly caused by the economic crisis and the stringent measures imposed by the US and the Western nations on collecting donations and remitting funds abroad for Islamic projects.
“This year, WAMY has reported five percent budget shortfall, that will eventually affect our services, aid and relief operations worldwide,” said Saleh S. Al-Wohaibi, WAMY’s secretary general, while addressing a press conference here Wednesday night.
Several WAMY officials including Mohammed Al-Surri, WAMY’s executive director; and Hassan A. Kudaish, chief of the WAMY’s education department, were also present during the briefing at the WAMY’s headquarters.
Al-Wohaibi gave an overview of WAMY’s operation worldwide with special reference to the WAMY’s global dialogue of civilization and grand iftar party to be held here on Aug. 29. He pointed out that more than 400 guests including 37 ambassadors and 28 charge d’affaires of different countries would attend the event. This is in addition to a large number of charities, businessmen and Islamic workers who will also participate in the dialogue.
Referring to the global dialogue organized by WAMY and the objectives behind it, Al-Wohaibi said “one of the major aims is to engage with other cultures in order to promote understanding and present a true picture of Islam”.
Such a measure has become necessary in view of the smear campaign against Islam and charitable organizations, he added. He also emphasized that there was a “growing confidence among donors now and many of them are approaching WAMY to find out how to help needy people.”
He explained that WAMY laid emphasis on education, which remained an elusive dream for millions of children, who are denied a chance to shape their futures.
“The grinding poverty, particularly in certain parts of Africa, is the result of economic oppression and exploitation worsened by ethnic conflict and regional wars,” he said. The international community and NGOs like WAMY would be failing in their duty if they don’t come forward to help them, he added.
Al-Wohaibi, however, lamented that the curbs imposed on charities like WAMY, which has over 450 youth organizations among its members worldwide, are creating more problems for poor children and youths across the world.
“One of the oft-repeated charges against charitable organizations is that they have become a channel for funding terrorism,” he said. The fact that WAMY has nothing to do with such activities is clear from its membership to several international organizations including the UN, he added.
The WAMY chief said: “Islamic charities like their counterparts in the US and Europe must have rights to accept donations, transfer funds to foreign countries for humanitarian projects and help people in need and in hours of crisis.”
Asked about the operation of WAMY, he said that this Riyadh-based NGO has a number of commitments in different parts of the world. WAMY, he said, is supporting 30,000 orphans at the moment. He also called on Gulf states to establish more charity organizations to help alleviate sufferings of the people.
To this end, he noted that there are about 3,000 charities in the Gulf Cooperation Council, but only five aid organizations have substantial budget and possibly outreach programs that help the poor masses across the globe.
WAMY is an Islamic NGO, whose stated purpose is to establish a platform where Muslim youth can get together. WAMY seeks to establish a relationship of dialogue, understanding and appreciation between Muslim organizations and other religions and cultures. It has been a partner of the UN activities, beginning with the International Youth Year (1985).