Manama, May 28 (BNA): His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Special Representative of His Majesty the King and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Isa Award for Service to Humanity, chaired the tenth meeting of the award’s fourth cycle.

HH Shaikh Mohammed bin Mubarak commended the efforts of the international jury, which carried out its responsibilities with objectivity and impartiality in assessing the contributions of nominees. This process resulted in the preparation of a shortlist comprising five potential laureates selected from among 150 candidates from different countries around the world.

Following its deliberations, the board approved the shortlist of nominees and instructed the award’s General Secretariat to undertake appropriate field procedures to verify the data and information included in the files of the potential recipients.

The Isa Award for Service to Humanity is presented every two years under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. It is awarded to an individual or institution and carries a value of one million US dollars, a gold medal, and a certificate of appreciation from His Majesty the King. The award was established in 2008 to honour the legacy of the late Amir Shaikh Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa and the notable humanitarian achievements of his era.

Previous recipients include Dr. Jemilah Mahmood of Malaysia in the first cycle for her disaster relief efforts; Professor Achyuta Samanta of India in the second cycle for his work in poverty alleviation; the Children’s Cancer Hospital in the Arab Republic of Egypt in the third cycle for its contribution to combating disease; the EDHI Foundation in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in the fourth cycle for its humanitarian services; and Dr. Sanduk Ruit of Nepal in the fifth cycle for his efforts in treating millions of people with eye conditions.

The Isa Award for Service to Humanity is distinguished as the first Arab award in the field of humanitarian service to gain international recognition, attracting nominees from around the world.