JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia, represented by the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), signed an agreement with the United Nations World Food Program (WFP) in Riyadh on Thursday to provide food services to 4 million displaced people in Syria.
Another $6 million agreement was signed to provide support for half a million refugees in Jordan, according to local media.
Yousef bin Ibrahim Al-Bassam, vice president and managing director of the SFD, signed the agreements for Saudi Arabia while Abdallah Al-Wardat, director of WFP Office for the GCC countries, signed on behalf of the WFP.
Al-Wardat said on the sidelines of the signing ceremony: “We are grateful for this contribution from the SDF which will help us to provide food aid to thousands of Syrians inside both Syria and Jordan. We have enjoyed close partnership with Saudi Arabia for more than four decades as Saudi Arabia is one of the key countries that supports the WFP projects and has thus far helped to save the lives of millions of people around the world.”
He noted that the two agreements are the second major cooperation agreement between the SDF and the WFP, adding: “Half the Saudi contribution value will be allocated to provide emergency food aid to thousands of displaced families inside Syria, including assistance for breastfeeding women, in addition to supporting the school feeding project for children as well as for skills training courses on agricultural projects. The other half will be used to provide food aid for refugees in Jordan, including support for the school feeding project there.”
Meanwhile, the Saudi National Campaign (SNC) in support of the Syrian people distributed schoolbags and stationery to 747 Syrian students in a Jordanian refugee camp in Irbid.
This comes within the framework of the 11th session of the SNC’s educational program entitled “My brother, with science we will build it,” which includes all age groups from the primary to the secondary study levels.
The campaign’s regional director, Badr Al-Samhan, said that the program aims to distribute 150,000 schoolbags containing stationery materials to Syrian students in Jordan in cooperation with the Jordanian Ministry of Education and the Jordanian Charity Organization for Arab and Islamic Relief, Development and Cooperation.
Al-Samhan pointed out that the campaign office in Jordan is proceeding in accordance with the plans that have been prepared in advance so that distributions can include all of the children of refugees. He emphasized that the Saudi campaign will continue to provide humanitarian support to refugees in Jordan, as well as in Turkey and Lebanon to alleviate their suffering and provide a decent life for them.
In another development, Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, adviser to the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid, met with Christos Stylianides, member of the European Commission in charge of Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, in Brussels on Wednesday evening.
Al-Rabeeah briefed Stylianides on the humanitarian efforts extended by Saudi Arabia through its center to a number of countries including Yemen and Syria.
Detailing relief measures undertaken by the Kingdom, Undersecretary of the Interior Ministry Ahmed Al-Salem said that the Kingdom has received 2.5 million Syrian refugees and 500,000 Yemenis so far, and confirmed that the government has provided all of the relevant services to them.
In a speech at the 2016 Crans Montana Forum which kicked off in Brussels Thursday, he noted that Saudi Arabia ranks third worldwide in terms of the amount of relief and humanitarian aid given to needy and displaced people across the globe.
Al-Salem went on to highlight the Kingdom’s efforts in relief and humanitarian field, noting its achievements over the past four decades in which more than $139 billion has been given to the needy throughout the world, without discrimination based on their religious or ethnic affiliations.
Additionally, thousands of Syrians and Yemenis have entered the Kingdom as guests, and that the government has provided them with all of the necessary means of care to create decent lives for themselves and their families, including the ability to work and free access to health care and education.
Saudi Arabia to provide food aid for 4m Syrian refugees through WFP
Saudi Arabia to provide food aid for 4m Syrian refugees through WFP
Orchestra celebrates soundtracks of popular video games at Saudi Arabia’s Ithra
- Concert features symphonic arrangements, in-game HD visuals
DHAHRAN: It is “game on” at the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture after it opened its doors to an event on Thursday.
The orchestral performance, which is being held nightly at the Ithra Theater — with two shows scheduled for Friday — celebrates the soundtracks of popular video games and attempts to breathe new life into them.
The concert features symphonic arrangements paired with in-game HD visuals and exclusive concept art from popular titles such as League of Legends, Overwatch, Assassin’s Creed, and The Witcher 3.
Sergey Smbatyan, founder of the Armenian State Symphony Orchestra and the artistic director and principal conductor since 2005, was on hand to lend context and commentary between the scores on opening night.
He told the crowd before the show: “If you’re not a gamer, what I want you to do is to imagine that you’re in a museum — an art museum — but instead of a curator telling you about the images that you’re going to see on this huge screen, let these musicians tell you that exact story.
“Tonight there is no right time to clap; there is no wrong time to clap. If you hear something you like from these guys (gesturing to the orchestra behind him on stage), let us know.
“We're going to start off tonight with role-play games, or what are known as RPGs, where players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. The game is focused on interactive storytelling, decision-making and strategy.”
Dhahran resident Paul Blay took his two daughters Sylvia, 11, and Celeste, 10, to the show.
Blay, who is a father of six, told Arab News: “I get emails about Ithra events and saw this one and I thought it would be fun for me and the girls to go to. Like with anyone that you love, I shared the things I love with them.”
The Blay family moved to the Kingdom last year and were keen to attend an event that merged gaming with music.
Celeste told Arab News: “I really like video game music; the music is really pretty and I like listening to that. It is kind of what motivated me to come here. And, also, my dad likes video games.”
The older Blay sisters have both taken music lessons and play multiple instruments, including the piano, the harp and the clarinet.
Their father said: “Some of the best music that’s being composed nowadays is for movies and video games. I expected it to be really high quality and good (at Ithra).”
The event featured music from Guild Wars 2, World of Warcraft, The Witcher 3 and Assassin’s Creed 2, among many others.
The last show takes place on April 5, with tickets starting at SR200 ($53), available at the venue or via the Ithra website.
Exhibition honoring Prince Khaled Al-Faisal inaugurated in Jeddah
- The exhibition chronicles Prince Khaled’s life and contributions as a statesman, individual and poet through visual installations
MAKKAH: Makkah Deputy Gov. Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz launched the “Love of Khaled Al-Faisal” exhibition as part of Jeddah Season festivities.
The ceremony was attended by Prince Turki bin Faisal, alongside several relatives of Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal.
The delegation toured the exhibition, housed at the Abadi Al-Johar area in Jeddah, which runs from April 3-8 and welcomes visitors daily from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The exhibition chronicles Prince Khaled’s life and contributions as a statesman, individual and poet through visual installations.
Saudi Arabia’s Hail poppy reserve attracts thousands of tourists
- Since opening in 2022, the reserve, which covers 10,000 sq. meters, has drawn thousands of domestic and foreign visitors
HAIL: With its vibrant array of wildflowers framed by golden sand dunes and majestic mountains, the Poppy Reserve in Al-Khattah is one of the Hail region’s most captivating attractions.
Since opening in 2022, the reserve, which covers 10,000 sq. meters, has drawn thousands of domestic and foreign visitors, particularly during holidays, Eid and the spring season.
The attraction enchants guests with its sweeping fields of poppies, perfectly balanced in form and color. As the sun sets, the golden rays cast a warm glow over the landscape and create a natural wonder.
This striking beauty enhances the region’s reputation for breathtaking scenery and offers a unique experience.
Saudi Arabia concludes participation in Bologna Book Fair
- The Saudi pavilion experienced significant engagement from publishers and international literary agencies, Al-Bassam added
BOLOGNA: Saudi Arabia concluded its participation in the Bologna International Book Fair 2025, held in Bologna, Italy, from March 31 to April 3.
The event introduced visitors to Saudi heritage through a comprehensive cultural experience.
Bassam Al-Bassam, general manager of publishing at the Saudi Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, said the commission organized various initiatives to enhance the publishing and translation industry in the Kingdom and showcase the Saudi cultural landscape.
The Saudi pavilion experienced significant engagement from publishers and international literary agencies, Al-Bassam added.
By participating in international book fairs, the Kingdom aims to enhance its cultural presence on a global scale and create new opportunities to promote Saudi culture both regionally and internationally.
Attempt to smuggle qat foiled in Saudi Arabia’s Jazan
- Preliminary procedures have been completed, and the seized narcotics were handed to the competent authority
JAZAN: Saudi Border Guard land patrols in Farasan, Jazan, arrested three Yemenis for violating border security system regulations and attempting to smuggle 171 kg of qat.
Meanwhile, Border Guard land patrols in Al-Daer, Jazan, foiled an attempt to smuggle 45 kg of hashish. Preliminary procedures have been completed, and the seized narcotics were handed to the competent authority.
