Red Crescent: Expanding humanitarian partnerships and strengthening international presence in line with Kuwait's established humanitarian approach

- Al-Tanak: Developing the Society’s humanitarian business model integrates rapid response, execution quality, governance, and sustainability

The Kuwait Red Crescent Society affirmed its commitment to advancing national preparedness, expanding humanitarian partnerships, and strengthening its international presence, “in line with Kuwait’s established humanitarian approach and to enhance the Society’s role in serving humanity wherever it is needed.”

Dr. Nasser Al-Tanak, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Society, told the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) on Saturday, while participating in the 12th Regional Conference of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in the Middle East and North Africa, hosted in Beirut, that the Society “places great importance on participating in the regional meeting to engage with our humanitarian partners, exchange ideas that strengthen our humanitarian and relief roles, and coordinate efforts to develop our services for our communities, especially during difficult times and circumstances, and to deliver optimal performance in emergencies.”

Al-Tanak added that the Society “is keen to maintain its active presence in the meetings of the International Federation and the Arab Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization, as well as in various humanitarian forums, to exchange experiences with sister national societies and support joint coordination in disaster response, volunteer work, humanitarian financing, and capacity building.”

He emphasized the importance of participating in regional and international meetings and gatherings, given their role in unifying and coordinating efforts and improving performance, in order to achieve more effective humanitarian work that serves local communities and supports people wherever the need arises.

In his address during one of the conference sessions, Al-Tanak outlined the Kuwait Red Crescent Society’s journey over the past two years, a period during which the Society has focused on “balancing the continuity of its humanitarian and relief roles abroad with enhancing national preparedness and developing its institutional framework in accordance with the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.”

He noted that on the humanitarian and relief front, the Society has continued its response to crises and disasters in several countries, prioritizing the most affected and needy areas, foremost among them the occupied Palestinian territories. There, the Society intensified its efforts to support the population of the Gaza Strip through relief campaigns, the dispatch of urgent aid, and the facilitation of air and land bridges in coordination with official authorities and sister national societies, alongside studying and implementing projects in the sectors of health, shelter, water and sanitation, education, and direct relief.

He highlighted the Society’s continued provision of humanitarian support in several Asian and African countries through medical and relief aid, as well as health and social projects, in cooperation with national societies and specialized humanitarian organizations.

On the health front, Al-Tanak stated that the Society “has increasingly focused on developing its interventions from traditional relief aid to more sustainable programs, including supporting health facilities, providing medicines and medical supplies, contributing to the treatment of medical cases, and studying the establishment of field medical capabilities that can be utilized in disasters and emergencies.”

He shed light on the efforts made by the Kuwait Red Crescent Society to expand cooperation with sister national societies and international humanitarian organizations, and to develop memoranda of understanding and partnership programs in the areas of disaster preparedness and risk reduction, health, community resilience, and capacity building, including the continuation of cooperation with several national societies in Asia and the Arab region.

He noted that, at the national level, strengthening emergency preparedness has been a core pillar of the Society’s work over the past period. In this regard, the Society has enhanced its readiness to handle emergency situations in coordination with state authorities, prepared shelter sites, provided basic needs and medical supplies, and allocated the necessary resources for rapid response.

Al-Tanak highlighted that these efforts included “mobilizing and screening more than 100 volunteers, organizing teams to work on a shift basis, and activating specialized teams in first aid, field response, and disaster management, thereby reinforcing the supportive role the Society plays alongside official entities in the State of Kuwait.”

He stated that in the area of local operations, “the Society has continued its social and humanitarian programs targeting families and the most vulnerable groups within the State of Kuwait. These initiatives have included food, educational, and health assistance, among other forms of support. Simultaneously, the Society has worked to develop the regulatory and oversight frameworks governing the provision of such aid, thereby enhancing fairness and transparency, preserving the dignity of beneficiaries, and ensuring that donations are directed toward their intended purposes.”

He explained that the Kuwait Red Crescent Society has, at the institutional level over the past two years, “reviewed and developed several internal, financial, and administrative regulations and systems, strengthened governance and oversight mechanisms, reorganized certain competencies and committees, and worked to enhance the administrative structure, salary scale, and internal control mechanisms. These measures contribute to building a more efficient, sustainable institution capable of responding to growing humanitarian demands.”

He pointed out that the Society has contributed to national efforts to regulate and protect the Red Crescent and Red Cross emblems, and to discuss legislation governing charitable and humanitarian work. This stems from its commitment to aligning national regulatory requirements with the Society’s specific nature, as the national Red Crescent Society of the State of Kuwait and a member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

He emphasized the Society’s focus on developing its capabilities in innovation, training, and the use of modern technologies, including training projects utilizing virtual reality technology. These initiatives aim to improve the efficiency of staff and volunteers and enhance their readiness to handle disaster and emergency scenarios.

He noted that the Society launched a Mental Health Office in February 2026, describing it as “a step taken by the Society as the third national society in the region to do so. The Society also established an artificial intelligence-based response service to reassure citizens and residents following the recent Iranian aggression and the associated air raid sirens.”

Al-Tanak stated, “What has been achieved over the past two years has not merely been an expansion in the scale of activities, but rather part of a broader trend aimed at developing the Society’s humanitarian work model to combine rapid response, quality execution, governance, sustainability, and the strengthening of national and international partnerships.”

He added, “On this occasion, the Kuwait Red Crescent Society reaffirms its commitment to the principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, foremost among them humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, unity, and universality. It remains dedicated to continuing cooperation with sister national societies and exchanging expertise with them, thereby enhancing our collective capacity to respond to the growing challenges of humanitarian needs.”

Al-Tanak concluded his presentation by affirming the Kuwait Red Crescent Society’s commitment to continuously enhancing its national capabilities and resources, expanding its humanitarian partnerships, and strengthening its international presence. He emphasized building upon the achievements of the past period to uphold and serve “Kuwait’s deeply rooted humanitarian approach” and to reinforce the role of the national society in serving humanity wherever it is found.

For his part, Dr. Hossam El-Sharkawi, Regional Director of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) for the Middle East and North Africa, told KUNA, “This conference is being held at an exceptionally challenging time for our region. While wars, conflicts, and disasters have divided us, it is humanity that unites us today under the umbrella of the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies. These societies are present on the ground in neighborhoods and streets, working daily to meet humanitarian needs and to swiftly provide relief and services to all in need during critical times and crises.”

He added, “The humanitarian role of these societies and their convergence on a noble goal—serving humanity and protecting life—contribute to building bridges between peoples and nations through humanitarian action.”

He noted that the societies meet every two years to discuss various regional issues, adding that today’s gathering takes place “at a sensitive time for the region, which we are addressing with the utmost seriousness and dedication, guided by our humanitarian message.”

It is worth noting that the Kuwait Red Crescent Society is participating in the conference, whose closed-door sessions spanned two days—yesterday, Friday, and today—through Dr. Nasser Al-Tanak, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, and Dr. Mohammed Al-Mutairi, Advisor to the Chairman of the Board.

The conference, hosted by the Lebanese Red Cross in cooperation with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, addressed topics including volunteer safety and partnerships within the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.