RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief), launched by King Salman in 2015, has saved “millions of people,” said its General Supervisor Abdullah Al-Rabeeah.
KSRelief has improved the lives of people in need in numerous countries, including Yemen and Syria.
King Salman on Tuesday ordered the payment of $15 million in aid for Rohingya refugees fleeing genocide in Myanmar.
The announcement came following a meeting of the Saudi Cabinet, which renewed a call for the international community to take urgent action to end the organized violence and allow Myanmar’s Muslim minority their basic human rights.
“The Kingdom, represented by KSRelief, has saved millions of people, victims of conflicts and crises worldwide, without discrimination in terms of their religion, race or color,” said Al-Rabeeah.
He added that the level of development and humanitarian assistance provided by the Kingdom, as a percentage of gross domestic product (GDP), exceeds the target set by the UN.
Al-Rabeeah was speaking in Washington at a symposium hosted by the National Council on US-Arab Relations and a committee for US-Gulf partnerships.
He said KSRelief, despite its recent establishment, has implemented 231 projects in 38 countries via 108 partnerships with the UN, international and local organizations.
Al-Rabeeah added that war-torn Yemen is suffering from poor infrastructure and poor health services, and is in dire need of humanitarian aid in the areas of food, health care and child malnutrition.
He cited the situation regarding humanitarian funding for Yemen by the international community, with only 42 percent of the UN’s target for 2017 — $976.5 million of $2.3 billion — met so far.
Al-Rabeeah said the Kingdom is one of the most active countries in the world in responding to the UN appeal for 2017, with its funding amounting to $221.9 million. The Kingdom gave Yemen a total of $8.27 billion between 2015 and 2017, he added.
Al-Rabeeah said the Kingdom responded to appeals by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF to fight cholera in Yemen by providing $66.7 million upon the directives of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
KSRelief implemented 103 projects benefiting almost 32 million women, with total funding of more than $157 million, he added.
These projects included 68 initiatives in the fields of education, protection, food security, health, water and environmental sanitation for Yemeni women.
Projects for children in Yemen focused on protection, rehabilitation, food, nutrition, health and environmental sanitation.
KSRelief implemented 116 projects for children worldwide, benefiting more than 60 million of them.
The center last week signed contracts with hospitals in Yemen to treat about 700 victims of the conflict.
It also freed and rehabilitated 40 Yemeni children who had previously been conscripted by Houthi militias. The children were returned to school and reintroduced to their peers.
For one month, they will receive psychological, educational, social and sports courses supervised by qualified psychologists, according to international standards for reintegration programs.
These children were forced by Houthi militias to take part in fighting and supply them with ammunition and food.
According to Yemeni government estimates, more than 10,000 children have been conscripted by the Houthis.
KSRelief is also supporting the Syrian people by coordinating with the Saudi National Campaign (SNC), which is offering humanitarian support including providing medical services via specialized clinics at Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan.
A Kingdom-wide fundraising campaign for people displaced by the war in Syria, including those evacuated from east Aleppo, was launched last December, and has received an overwhelming response.
Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest donors to UN relief campaigns for Syria, and has an ongoing aid program for refugees and those internally displaced.
Humanitarian work puts Saudi Arabia at forefront of philanthropy
Humanitarian work puts Saudi Arabia at forefront of philanthropy
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KSrelief to host 4th Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum in February 2025
- Themed “Navigating the Future of Humanitarian Response,” the forum will coincide with KSrelief’s 10th anniversary
RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center will host the fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum on Feb. 24-25 next year, under the patronage of King Salman, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.
Themed “Navigating the Future of Humanitarian Response,” the forum will coincide with KSrelief’s 10th anniversary and is being organized in partnership with UN humanitarian agencies.
It will bring together global leaders, donors, humanitarian workers, and experts to address pressing challenges in humanitarian aid.
The event will also feature high-level panel discussions with renowned researchers and specialists from Saudi Arabia and around the world.
Topics will include the role of humanitarian diplomacy in mitigating conflicts and disasters, strategies for effective delivery of aid and relief supplies, and addressing displacement amid escalating conflicts and natural disasters, SPA added.
KSrelief, Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian arm, continues to play a pivotal role in addressing crises and supporting vulnerable communities worldwide, and the forum underscores its commitment to fostering dialogue and innovation in the humanitarian sector.
The previous edition of the forum in 2023 concluded with recommendations to minimize funding gaps in relief aid and leverage science and innovation for quicker response and improved coordination in humanitarian efforts.
Muslim World League chief meets Pope Francis in Vatican City
- During his visit to Italy, Al-Issa received an honorary fellowship in post-doctoral law studies from the University of Bologna
RIYADH: Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, secretary-general of the Muslim World League, met Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, in the Vatican to discuss mutual cooperation and shared interests.
During his visit to Italy, Al-Issa received an honorary fellowship in post-doctoral law studies from the University of Bologna.
The ceremony was attended by the university’s president, the law faculty’s dean, academics, and religious leaders from both Islamic and Catholic communities.
The honor recognized Al-Issa’s efforts in advancing the goals of the UN Charter, promoting peace, reducing cultural tensions, and fostering mutual understanding and collaboration among communities.
The MWL chief emphasized that the reasons for awarding him the post-doctoral fellowship in law from one of the most prestigious Western universities “reflect our Islamic values, which we must clarify to everyone.”
As part of his visit, Al-Issa launched the Islamic Studies and Arabic Language Award at the Catholic University of Milan.
The event was attended by high-level Vatican officials, marking the launch of a groundbreaking initiative to promote the teaching of the Arabic language and Islamic studies in Europe.
Islamic leaders described the award as a long-awaited step on an influential platform within Christian communities. The award includes categories that clarify Islamic concepts and promote the beauty and importance of the Arabic language.
Saudi wildlife center releases 66 endangered animals in King Khalid Royal Reserve
- 40 rhim gazelles, 10 Arabian oryx, 10 houbara bustards and 6 idmi gazelles released as part of wider initiative to enhance biodiversity and restore ecological balance
- Solar-powered tracking devices fitted to some of the animals to monitor patterns of movement, behaviors and how they adapt to their environment
RIYADH: The National Center for Wildlife has released 66 endangered native animals into the King Khalid Royal Reserve in Al-Thumamah region of northeastern Riyadh.
Forty rhim gazelles, 10 Arabian oryx, 10 houbara bustards and six idmi gazelles were released as part of a wider ongoing initiative, in partnership with the Imam Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Royal Reserve Development Authority, that aims to enhance biodiversity, restore ecological balance, promote sustainability, and support eco-tourism in the reserve, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
“This release is a significant step toward maintaining ecological systems and promoting biodiversity,” said Mohammed Qurban, the CEO of the wildlife center.
The stated aim of organization is to become a global leader in wildlife protection, by focusing on breeding endangered species and reintroducing them into natural ecosystems in line with international conservation standards.
Qurban said the center is dedicated to conducting research on endangered species and monitoring biodiversity in protected areas using advanced technologies that track animal populations and collect data that is critical in efforts to address conservation challenges and opportunities.
Talal Al-Harigi, CEO of the development authority, said solar-powered tracking devices have been fitted to some of the released animals. These will enable researchers to monitor them via satellite to gain valuable insights into their patterns of movement, behaviors and how they adapt to their environment.
The initiative also helps to support efforts to restore ecological balance and increase vegetation cover in the reserve, which essential to help species adapt to natural habitats, he added.
City governor launches $160m first phase of Madinah Gate project
- Development will comprise apartments, hotel, retail units, bus station
MADINAH: Madinah governor Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz on Monday launched the $160 million first phase of the Madinah Gate project.
The mixed-use development will comprise a 325-bedroom DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, 80 shops, 44 restaurants, apartments, recreational facilities and a bus station, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
It will also have a direct connection to the Haramain High-Speed Railway, which links Madinah with Makkah.
Madinah Gate — the first two phases of which will span 37,000 sq. meters — is being developed as a collaboration between Saudi Arabia Railways and developer Knowledge Economic City Co., with support from the city’s authorities.
Amin Shaker, chairman of the development company, said the project — its first in southern Madinah — would help strengthen the city’s status as a global visitor destination.
New partnership set to drive Kingdom’s architecture industry
- Deal will help promote local talent, foster innovation
RIYADH: The Architecture and Design Commission has signed a strategic partnership with contracting firm Nesma & Partners to promote the Kingdom’s architecture and design industry.
The commission’s CEO Sumayah Al-Solaiman and Nesma’s Managing Director Rami Al-Turki on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding to establish a framework for collaboration in professional development and industry innovation.
The partnership aims to prepare a new generation of Saudi professionals to compete on the world stage and reinforce the Kingdom’s position as a regional hub for architecture and design excellence.
“The initiative aims to empower architects and designers to develop their skills and enhance their capabilities, creating an environment that nurtures Saudi talent while fostering innovation and creativity in the sector,” Al-Solaiman said.
It would also help to advance the commission’s mission to forge strategic alliances with industry leaders, she said.
Under the deal, the two sides will cooperate in areas such as industry best practice, knowledge exchange and professional workshops. It will also involve the joint sponsorship of competitions, awards and conferences.
“As a leading Saudi contractor, we are committed to providing training and creating employment opportunities for Saudi architects,” Al-Turki said.
“Our strategic partnership with the commission reflects our values of innovation, excellence and social responsibility.”
The initiative aligns with Saudi Vision 2030’s goals for sector development, focusing on building a sustainable ecosystem for architecture and design professionals.
The commission emphasized its commitment to advancing scientific research and creating an integrated environment that supports the sector’s creative community.
