JEDDAH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) helped 43 countries last year, a spokesman for the agency said Friday, as assistance to Yemen was stepped up.
Chalhoub bin Abdullah Chalhoub told a forum, titled “The intervention to alleviate the humanitarian crisis in the Muslim world,” in Cairo that the center provided assistance regardless of race, religion or nationality.
He said KSRelief sought to transfer its experience in relief and humanitarian work to Islamic countries and organizations.
Chalhoub said that the center’s assistance and promotion of humanitarian actions in Muslim countries come from a vision based on the Saudi pioneering role in relief and humanitarian action to convey Saudi values to the world.
In February alone the agency helped Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon, Yemeni patients and internally displaced people in Nigeria.
Chalhoub was speaking on the sidelines of the first ever cultural and artistic festival organized by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) titled “One nation and diverse cultures... Palestine in our heart.”
Other speakers at the symposium were KSRelief’s Dr. Yahya Al-Shammari, Hassan Abdel Moneim from the International Organization for Migration, Dr. Abeer Atifah of the World Food Programme and Osama Maher from the World Health Organization.
Delegates watched a documentary about Saudi relief and humanitarian efforts and the support provided to countries worldwide. There was also a presentation of statistics for countries benefiting from the Kingdom’s assistance.
As many as 2,501,897 Yemenis benefited from medical services provided by KSRelief in 2018, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The aid was given on the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammed bin Salman.
The center is also actively involved in the rehabilitation of children affected by the war.
The program aims to help the children return to their normal lives, through teaching them and practicing different sports, as well as field trips. KSRelief plans to rehabilitate 2,000 children who were recruited by the Houthis.
A volunteer medical team from the agency has been performing open-heart surgeries and catheterizations in Yemen as part of a campaign ending Feb. 9. There have also been further deliveries of dialysis medication.
In the first six days of this campaign, the total number of operations conducted was 24 open-heart surgeries and 64 therapeutic catheterizations.
The father of one of the heart surgery patients brought his daughter from their home in Shabwa to Mukulla for treatment.
He said she had been suffering from heart issues for a long time but the family lacked the financial resources to get her the help she needed.
“We are so grateful for the generosity of KSRelief, which initiated this campaign, bringing hope to our family.”
Another parent also thanked the agency for its help, adding he had tried for eight years to find medical intervention for his son.
Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSRelief at forefront of ‘global humanitarian effort’
Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSRelief at forefront of ‘global humanitarian effort’
- Saudi Arabia’s relief agency extended help to 43 countries in 2018
- A volunteer medical team from the agency has been performing open-heart surgeries and catheterizations in Yemen as part of a campaign ending February 9
Makkah royal commission showcases city’s cultural, tourist offerings at World Travel Market
- Saudi minister of tourism speaks of Kingdom’s investment in sector
LONDON: The Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites this week showcased key projects that highlight the Saudi city’s rich cultural and historical significance, as part of the Saudi delegation at the World Travel Market 2024 in London.
Major initiatives featured by the RCMC included the Hira Cultural District, the Revelation Exhibition, the Kiswa Factory of the Holy Kaaba, and the Institute of Manuscripts and Revival of Islamic Heritage.
The RCMC pavilion also provided insights into major infrastructure developments, such as Makkah’s public transportation system.
This system, with 12 bus routes covering all neighborhoods, is designed to ensure seamless, reliable travel and improve the quality of life for both residents and visiting pilgrims.
This year’s World Travel Market event, which finished on Thursday, also saw Ahmed Al-Khateeb, the Saudi minister of tourism and chairman of the Saudi Tourism Authority, launch the Kingdom’s participation with the Saudi Land Pavilion.
The pavilion included the Visit Saudi exhibition, organized by the Saudi Tourism Authority for the fourth consecutive year and supported by more than 70 partners in the sector, including destinations, hotels, airlines and travel companies.
Al-Khateeb said: “Saudi Arabia, the fastest-growing tourist destination globally, seeks to solidify its leadership in world tourism, aligning with the Saudi Vision 2030 goals by highlighting unique destinations, new projects, and significant investment opportunities.”
He added: “Saudi Arabia is the largest global investor in the tourism sector.”
Meet Reman Assere, Saudi Arabia’s youngest Arabic calligraphy instructor
- She became the youngest certified instructor at the age of just 11
- Assere now tutors students of all ages
MAKKAH: After qualifying at just 11 years old, Reman Assere officially became Saudi Arabia’s youngest calligraphy instructor.
Her journey started in fifth grade, sparked by a school activity. She began with basic exercises but, with continuous practice and self-learning through platforms such as YouTube, she steadily refined her skills.
Her ambitions and her love of the art drove her to undertake professional training in Kufic calligraphy, believed to be the earliest example of a universal style of Arabic calligraphy. Once qualified, she was registered on the Ministry of Culture’s official platform, Al-Khattat.
What truly set her apart and caught people’s attention was her relentless dedication to learning. Even during vacations, she practiced tirelessly, seeking out special events and connecting with other calligraphers.
FASTFACT
Reman Assere’s ambitions and her love of the art drove her to undertake professional training in Kufic calligraphy.
Now aged 15, Assere told Arab News that her professional training was carried out under the guidance Shurooq Al-Harbi. She also highlighted the pivotal role played in her development by Prof. Siraj Al-Omari, whose ongoing support and encouragement were instrumental.
Today, Assere has become proficient in both in writing and teaching Kufic calligraphy and is expanding her expertise to include the Diwani style.
However, her journey has been far from easy. A lack of calligraphy institutes in her native region of Abha posed considerable challenges and meant she had to rely on online courses or travel to other cities.
It was worth it, however. Her numerous awards include first place in the 2023 Cultural Skills Competition and the Ministry of Education’s National Olympiad for Arabic Calligraphy. She has also demonstrated her talents at prominent events, such as the Layalina Festival in Wadi Al-Dawasir and the Abha Shopping and Entertainment Festival.
Assere has also led courses at the Holy Mosque Library in Makkah and organized calligraphy workshops in schools.
Today, she is recognized as one of the most influential trainers in Arabic calligraphy, teaching across all age groups. She takes pride in seeing her students compete in calligraphy competitions, a testament to the success of her approach and teaching methods.
Even in an age of rapid technological advancements, Assere is confident that calligraphy’s unique beauty will endure. She believes the future is bright for students and trainees, as the art of calligraphy continues to inspire and cultivate creativity.
She explained how the beauty of Arabic calligraphy is in the balance and harmony of its letters, with fluid lines that interlace. For Assere, Arabic calligraphy not only captures the essence and grace of the Arabic language, but it also allows the writer to convey thoughts and emotions.
Arabic calligraphy is celebrated for its variety of styles, including Kufic, Naskh, Thuluth, Diwani, and Ruq’ah, each with a unique character and distinct lettering technique. Rooted in precise geometric principles, Arabic calligraphy achieves a harmonious visual balance, allowing for flexibility in letter formation, overlapping designs, and intricate decorative motifs.
Assere said: “The beauty of Arabic calligraphy extends beyond writing; it is a visual art that enhances both artworks and decorations. Over time, it has become a cultural symbol that embodies Arab and Islamic identity.”
Saudi Arabia’s urban planning on display at WUF
- The pavilion highlighted prominent Saudi infrastructure development initiatives, in line with international quality standards, that meet the needs of residents and visitors of Saudi cities
CAIRO: The Saudi pavilion at the World Urban Forum in Cairo this week hosted a series of workshops and bilateral meetings on the Kingdom’s strategies and projects in comprehensive urban planning.
The Saudi presence also underlined the positive effect of these strategies on achieving sustainable urban development and improving the quality of life in Saudi cities, in line with the goals of Vision 2030.
Through representatives and officials of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs and more than 30 national entities, the Saudi pavilion showed the Kingdom’s efforts to adopt and expand comprehensive urban planning practices focused on sustainability, and apply the requirement to study environmental impact in municipal and investment projects.
The meetings highlighted the concept of smart municipalities aimed at improving the quality of municipal services in Saudi regions and adopting modern technologies and enhanced municipal regulations for smart city policies, as well as the use of artificial intelligence technologies and data in improving the quality of life.
The pavilion highlighted prominent Saudi infrastructure development initiatives, in line with international quality standards, that meet the needs of residents and visitors of Saudi cities, the Saudi Press Agency reported, in addition to urban landscape development projects and visual distortion treatment projects.
Saudi foreign minister, Blinken discuss regional crises
- Two discussed ongoing efforts to address the issues in Gaza and Lebanon
RIYADH: Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan spoke on the phone on Friday with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Saudi Press Agency reported.
During the call, they reviewed regional issues, with a particular focus on Gaza and Lebanon and ongoing efforts to address the issues there, SPA added.
In a separate call on Friday with UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Blinken stressed the need to stop the fighting in Sudan and the need to support efforts to form a civilian government, the State Department said.
Blinken also discussed the need to expand humanitarian access to Sudan and thanked the UAE for its provision of aid for Gaza and Lebanon, according to a State Department statement.
Saudi health minister unveils new healthcare projects in Qassim
- Saudi Health Minister’s visit marked the inauguration of several healthcare projects, including 54 initiatives valued at more than SR 448 million ($119.4 million)
BURAIDAH: Saudi Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel visited Qassim to review several healthcare projects designed to enhance the quality, efficiency and accessibility of medical services for residents.
These initiatives align with the objectives of the Health Sector Transformation Program, a key component of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to foster a “vibrant society” enjoying a healthy and prosperous life, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
His visit marked the inauguration of several healthcare projects, including 54 initiatives valued at more than SR 448 million ($119.4 million). Among these were key projects under the Qassim Health Cluster, such as the dental center in Unaizah, along with community-supported initiatives worth nearly SR102 million.
Highlights included the Prince Faisal bin Mishaal Fertility Center in Buraidah, the Abdullah Saleh Al-Othaim Diabetes Treatment Center at Al-Rass General Hospital, the Al-Rajhi Bank Cardiac Catheterization Center, and several other specialized healthcare facilities.
