Jeddah, Ramadan 07, 1437, June 12, 2016, SPA -- The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has called on its member states and humanitarian organizations to commemorate Orphan’s Day which falls on 15th of the holy month of Ramadan in the Muslim world. It issued the following statement on this occasion: The wide range of disasters, wars and crises witnessed across the OIC Member States left in their wake countless victims, as well as hundreds of thousands of orphaned children. The rights of an orphan are high among the priority rights prescribed in Islam as well as in all other heavenly religions. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation has paid particular attention to the issues of orphans. It had launched a special program for the welfare and protection of orphans, after the Tsunami catastrophe that hit Indonesia and a number of other states. Yet the needs of orphans in the regions struck by disasters or catastrophes remain immense. Hence, the OIC appeals to all its Member States and humanitarian organizations to undertake all kinds of relevant actions to raise awareness of the issues of orphans and their needs, on the occasion of the Orphan’s Day in the Islamic World, which is set for the 15th of Ramadan, proceeding from a desire to honor the orphans, to remind the masses in all the Member States of their sufferings and to urge them to make increased efforts in extending relief and protection to them. It is worth noting that the 40th session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, which was held in Conakry, Republic of Guinea on 9-11 December 2013, had issued a resolution setting the date of 15 Ramadan of each year as the Orphan’s Day in the Islamic World to raise awareness about their issues and needs. --SPA 16:11 LOCAL TIME 13:11 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w