On its 5^th Annual Conference of Civil Society Organization in Islamic World, the IHH Humanitarian Relief Foundation in partnership with the Organization of Islamic Conference International (OIC Int’l.) invites Bangsamoro Development Agency (BDA) on December 14-15, 2013 at Holiday Inn Istanbul Airport Hotel, Istanbul Turkey.

The conference is aimed on discussing the theme for this year which is “The rising role of civil society organizations in the Islamic World”. It is participated by different CSOs from 200 Islamic countries worldwide.

BDA is represented by Ustadz Mohammad S. Yacob, Executive Director. According to him, the participation of BDA in that conference gives opportunity to meet different organizations from Islamic countries and the chance to introduce the agency to the Islamic world.

“We went there as BDA, as development arm of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF)”, Ustadz Yacob said.

Ustadz Yacob related that BDA was able to share its mandate to different Islamic organizations that is to lead, determine and manage relief, rehabilitation and development projects in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

He further said that the topics discussed in the conference are very much related to what BDA is doing, especially on humanitarian and development aspects.

In the conference, roles of NGOs and CSOs on humanitarian and crisis situation are discussed within the context of historical and cultural ties. Participating NGOs shares challenges they face in their respective projects and programs and the problem of the Islamic World as a whole based on political, economical and cultural grounds.

Through presentations and discussion sessions, participating organizations were able to identify future plans that they can do jointly considering the given situation and challenges.

Discussing special issue, a special meeting was also held on the night before the conference proper. They discuss situation in Syria and the future of humanitarian action there. Civil war has been happening in Syria since 2011 when a massive protest against the nation leader was launched that year causing massive deaths of civilians and innocents.