THE 23RD SESSION OF THE ISLAMIC COMMITTEE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CRESCENT BEGAN HERE YESTERDAY. SIMULTANEOUSLY, THE SCIENTIFIC SYMPOSIUM ORGANIZED UNDER THE TITLE OF 'THE ROLE OF THE ORGANIZATIONS OF THE CIVIL SOCIETY IN PROMOTION OF THE HUMAN VALUES AND ENHANCING RESPECT OF THE HUMAN INTERNATIONAL LAW' BEGAN ITS DELIBERATIONS. THE PARTICIPANTS OF THE SESSION OF THE ISLAMIC COMMITTEE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CRESCENT WILL REVIEW A NUMBER OF TOPICS PERTAINING TO THE RELIEF PROGRAMS AS WELL AS EXPANDING THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE TO NEW REGIONS IN THE MUSLIM WORLD. THE COMMITTEE, AN AFFILIATE OF JEDDAH-BASED ORGANIZATION OF THE ISLAMIC CONFERENCE (OIC), IS CONCERNED WITH HUMANITARIAN SERVICES AS WELL AS PROJECTING AND HIGHLIGHTING THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE MUSLIM NATION TO THE INTERNATIONAL EFFORTS THAT AIM AT EXTENDING RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO VICTIMS OF NATURAL DISASTERS AND WARS. MEANWHILE, OIC'S SECRETARY GENERAL PROFESSOR IHSAN OGHLU SAID IN A MESSAGE READ ON HIS BEHALF BY HASSAN SHOSHTARI, THE HEAD OF THE ISLAMIC COMMITTEE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL CRESCENT, THAT THE MUSLIM WORLD IS FACING SERIOUS CHALLENGES AT THE ARENA OF THE HUMANITARIAN WORK. HE CALLED FOR EXERTING TIRELESS EFFORTS FOR CONFRONTING THESE CHALLENGES IN THE LIGHT OF THE CONTINUOUS DISPUTES, WARS AND DISASTERS WHICH HAVE LED TO THE DEATH OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THE OIC'S MEMBER STATES.