Royal Charity Organisation ‘to cover’ expenses of Bahraini citizens abroad

Manama

The Royal Charity Organisation (RCO) will cover the expenses of the Bahrainis in Iran, a Jaafari Endowment Department officer has said. The department has been tasked under directives of HM King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to follow up on the expenses of the Bahraini citizens abroad with regard to the coronavirus until their repatriation.

“We truly appreciate this initiative and the generous gesture by His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Charity and Youth Affairs, National Security Adviser, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and RCO Board of Trustees Chairman,” Mahmood Al Tooblani, the head of the follow-up team at the Jaafari Endowments Department, said. “The follow-up team has launched a form to be filled in by Bahraini citizens abroad and we look forward to everyone cooperating in providing the required data.”

The team has already contacted the official concerned parties that have provided the list of names of citizens to be assisted, he added. The team will also co-ordinate with the tour operators to look into the various options for prompt financial compensation.

Following the issuance of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa’s directives to the Jaffari Endowments Directorate to follow up the expenses of Bahraini citizens who are still abroad because of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), in co-ordination with the relevant authorities, and until their return home, the Jaffari Endowments Council held an emergency meeting on Saturday under the chairmanship of Yusuf Saleh Al Saleh.

Mr Al Saleh extended, on behalf of the council’s members, deepest thanks and gratitude to HM the King for his kind gesture that adds to the multiple royal achievements for the sake of his loyal people during his prosperous era. He also praised the precious royal trust bestowed upon them, pledging to carry on the national mission to the fullest in order to meet HM the King’s aspirations.

Mr Al Saleh stressed that the sound royal directives reflect HM the King’s care for all citizens in Bahrain and abroad, paying tribute to His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, for the tremendous efforts he is making, as well as his follow-up on all precautionary and preventive measures adopted to combat COVID-19 and prevent its spread.

He pointed out that the Jaffari Endowments Directorate will co-ordinate with the relevant authorities and cover the expenses of the citizens during their stay abroad until their return, noting that the expenses will be added to the Directorate’s budget, based on HM King Hamad’s instructions.

The Jaffari Endowments Council said that the other relevant authorities will follow up on the return of the citizens according to the pre-set plan. The Jaffari Endowments Council formed a work team, led by its Chairman, to follow up on the implementation of the royal directives, and take the necessary procedures, in coordination with the competent authorities.

The work team held its first meeting to develop a plan to translate HM the King’s directives into the ground, in co-ordination with the Interior Ministry, Foreign Affairs Ministry, Health Ministry and the National Task Force for Combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19), in addition to all relevant parties.

The team’s tasks include determining the names of the relevant citizens, in co-ordination with the competent authorities, allocating a hotline (phone and WhatsApp) to follow up on the remarks of the citizens, co-ordinating with all the relevant sides, including travel agencies, and discussing the mechanisms to compensate the citizens, as well as the period on which compensations will be made.

The panel will have to submit its recommendations to the competent authorities, appoint an independent financial auditor, submit an audited final account of the project, regulate media communication, respond to all inquiries and contact all parties to implement the royal directives to the fullest.