JEDDAH: The US Chargé d’Affaires to Saudi Arabia Christopher Henzel has issued a statement congratulating King Salman, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Kingdom’s people on its National Day.
Henzel’s statement read: “On behalf of the United States of America and all my colleagues here at the Embassy and our Consulates General in Jeddah and Dhahran, I extend our congratulations to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, and the people of Saudi Arabia on your national day.
“Our partnership with Saudi Arabia extends from our close security cooperation to our strong relations in business and exchange programs. Together we are working to promote the security and prosperity of both our countries.
“Through our educational and cultural exchange programs we learn from each other and deepen our partnership. Over many decades hundreds of thousands of Saudi and American officials, tourists, business representatives, and students have traveled between our countries and in the process have cemented our strong ties.
“I wish the people of Saudi Arabia success in all their endeavors and look forward to a bright future as our two countries continue to work together.”
US Chargé d’Affaires to Saudi Arabia congratulates King Salman on National Day
US Chargé d’Affaires to Saudi Arabia congratulates King Salman on National Day
Ninth Saudi relief plane for Syria lands in Damascus
RIYADH: The ninth relief plane from Saudi Arabi landed on Saturday at Damascus International Airport, state news agency SPA has reported.
The aircraft, operated by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), was loaded with essentials supplies including food, shelter and medical supplies for the Syrian people to help them cope with the difficult conditions they are into.
This assistance is an extension of Saudi Arabia’s continuous humanitarian and relief efforts through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief, to support those in need worldwide during crises, SPA reported.
KSrelief provides food and shelter assistance in three Syrian cities
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia provided food, shelter and winter kits to the Syrian people through its aid agency, KSrelief, as part of several humanitarian missions across Syria.
The agency on Wednesday distributed bags of flour, winter kits and personal care kits to 132 families in the city of Al-Rastan in Homs, benefitting 626 individuals.
KSrelief also distributed food parcels and health kits to 1,455 families in the Afrin and Azaz regions in Aleppo, benefiting 8,730 individuals.
KSrelief on Thursday distributed 1,224 bags of flour, food baskets, personal care bags and shelter kits to 306 families in the city of Douma.
The efforts are part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing commitment to deliver humanitarian assistance aimed at alleviating the suffering of the Syrian people.
KSrelief’s global humanitarian efforts continue
RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center’s (KSrelief) humanitarian efforts continue for distressed families and individuals in need of support from basic food supplies to medical intervention.
In Sudan’s Gedaref State, Saudi Arabia’s aid agency handed out 1,117 boxes of dates to benefit 10,114 individuals displaced by the continuing conflict in the country.
In Mali’s city of Segou, KSrelief distributed 1,000 food parcels benefiting 5,600 individuals from the most vulnerable groups including internally displaced persons, widows, and people with special needs. The initiative is part of agency’s food-security support project in the country and the wider global community.
In Afghanistan’s Nangarhar Province, KSrelief turned over 276 shelter bags and 276 tents as part of the shelter project for returnees from Pakistan and those affected by the 2024 floods.
The ongoing initiative aims to distribute 4,882 various shelter materials such as tents, blankets, plastic mattresses and other basic shelter supplies in several cities in Afghanistan.
In Somalia, the national blood bank in Mogadishu – operated by KSrelief – managed to help 222 individuals in December.
In Jordan, another batch of Syrian refugees graduated from a KSrelief-run training and educational course being run at the Zaatari Refugee Camp. A total of 343 students received training on sewing, embroidery, handicrafts, culinary arts and painting. Remedial lessons were also given to elementary school students in subjects such as mathematics, Arabic and English, as well as a literacy course and Qur’anic studies.
Wild ghee production: Tradition of the Northern Borders region
- Wild ghee production peaks during the winter months due to high local demand
- Northern women showcase their ghee and other handicrafts at various festivals and national events
ARAR: In the Northern Borders region, women have long excelled in producing wild ghee, a staple rooted in the local culture and closely tied to the region’s abundant livestock, estimated by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture to exceed seven million cattle and camels.
Wild ghee production peaks during the winter months due to high local demand and is a key ingredient in many popular dishes, including porridge and festive meals.
Umm Nada, a local ghee producer, describes the multi-stage process: Starting with milking, the milk is then heated, boiled, slightly cooled and mixed with a starter culture to transform it into “khathir,” a traditional dairy product of naturally fermented or curdled milk similar to yogurt or kefir.
The mixture is then churned for more than half an hour in a goatskin or sheepskin container called a “samil.” After several days of mixing, the butter is melted over fire, turning into wild ghee, which is then stored in leather containers known as “al-nahw” or “al-dharf.”
Northern women showcase their ghee and other handicrafts at festivals and national events, with the Arar market and the Lavender Hall, which provides training and development for local producers, serving as key venues for these traditional crafts.
Saudi nature reserve unveils winter retreat near historic Laynah village
- Laynah Camp, designed for nature lovers and desert enthusiasts, is located adjacent to the Al-Dahna Desert
- The initiative is part of the Darb Zubaydah Winter festival, which aims to promote sustainable ecotourism
RAFHA: A winter season retreat close to the historic Laynah village in the Northern Borders Region is now open to holidaymakers.
Designed for nature lovers and desert enthusiasts, the wilderness retreat, Laynah Camp, was unveiled this week by the Imam Turki Bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve Development Authority as part of the Darb Zubaydah Winter festival, which aims to promote sustainable ecotourism and preserve the region’s cultural and historical heritage.
Laynah Camp “offers a serene atmosphere where wildlife beauty blends with the desert’s charm, providing visitors with inspiring and adventurous moments,” a Saudi Press Agency report said.
Set against the backdrop of the Al-Dahna Desert, the fully equipped tent accommodation provides breathtaking views of the natural surroundings. To add to the experience, activities such as exploratory trips and upscale camping are on offer, the report added.
Laynah village itself has its own attractions, particularly its ancient water wells, which makes it one of the most important historical sites in the Kingdom.
In a previous SPA report, researcher and heritage and antiquities expert Abdulrahman bin Mohammed Al-Tuwaijri was quoted as saying Laynah village was known to be one of the oldest settlements in the Arabian Peninsula.
“Located on the ancient trade route between Najd and Iraq, it has throughout history provided traveling caravan convoys with respite from harsh desert conditions,” the report said.
