The Higher Committee of Human Fraternity (HCHF) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency signed a letter of intent on Tuesday, setting up a partnership to establish joint humanitarian initiatives in for the arrangement of international protection and assistance to refugees and other persons of concern. This comes as part of the HCHFs efforts to implement the principles of the Document on Human Fraternity, co-signed by His Eminence Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Professor Ahmed Al-Tayeb and His Holiness Pope Francis on February 4, 2019, in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

The letter, signed by HCHF Secretary-General, Mohamed Abdelsalam, and UNHCR High Commissioner, Filippo Grandi, at the UNHCR offices in Geneva, expressed the objective for the HCHF and UNHCR to explore modalities to mobilize resources and develop initiatives that serve millions of displaced persons around the world, including the HCHFs philanthropic and humanitarian initiatives.

High Commissioner Grandi conveyed his appreciation for the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, adding that the mobilization of resources, especially humanitarian resources, is very important to support the work of the UNHCR.

Secretary-General Judge Abdelsalam noted that, the Document on Human Fraternity, out of which the Higher Committee was born, makes mention of caring for refugees, and that, the HCHF is ready to support UNHCR, with the plight of Rohingya refugees being an ideal initial focus given the massive fire that recently ripped through Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh. Judge Abdelsalam further reassured that the HCHF has a deep concern for refugees all around the world.

High Commissioner Grandi agreed on the significance of having a joint initiative to assist Rohingya refugees and host communities, while highlighting the significance of the UNHCR-Religions for Peace Multi-Religious Council of Leaders, of which Judge Abdelsalam is a member.

Judge Abdelsalam praised the initiative, that consists of religious leaders representing the worlds diverse faith traditions and aims to generate synergized efforts in the service of forcibly displaced and stateless peace, in support of UNHCR, at global, regional, and national levels.