NEW YORK: Fahad Al-Mubarak, Saudi Arabia’s G20 sherpa and minister of state, has recently participated alongside the Kingdom’s permanent representative to the UN, Abdallah Al-Mouallimi, in the extraordinary virtual meeting of the Group of Friends of Financing Sustainable Development Goals.
During the meeting, Al-Mubarak highlighted that the Kingdom is working within the G20 to create a global initiative with the goal of preparing for and responding to epidemics quickly and effectively in the future. He referenced the G20’s pledge of over $5 trillion to protect the global economy, explaining how leaders have agreed to work together to ensure the flow of biomedical supplies, vital agricultural products and other goods and services across borders.
He added that the G20 is committed to cooperation in order to facilitate international trade and coordinate responses in ways that prevent unnecessary interference. He stressed the need for international action and solidarity, emphasizing that this has become ‘more urgent than ever’ in light of the pandemic.
In his speech, Al-Mouallimi spoke of the Kingdom’s humanitarian role towards the international community, referring to its support of the legitimate Yemeni government’s efforts in fighting the pandemic.
Al-Mouallimi added that as part its international efforts to fight the disease, Saudi Arabia is working in partnership with several UN member states to submit a resolution to the General Assembly.
He called on all member states to support this important resolution, stressing the need for the UN, the international community and relevant stakeholders to cooperate to ensure that the economic, humanitarian and financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are addressed in a timely manner and that no country is left behind.
Global action ‘more urgent than ever’ to prevent the spread of virus
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Global action ‘more urgent than ever’ to prevent the spread of virus
- Al-Mouallimi added that as part its international efforts to fight the disease, Saudi Arabia is working in partnership with several UN member states to submit a resolution to the General Assembly
Rain lashes parts of Saudi Arabia with warnings of thunderstorms and hail
- Overcast skies dominated the day in the capital Riyadh, which recorded moderate rainfall in the morning
- The weather office also warned of potential near-zero visibility and flooding in some areas
RIYADH: Rain fell on parts of Saudi Arabia early on Sunday, with officials forecasting thunderstorms, hail, and strong winds.
Overcast skies dominated the day in the capital Riyadh, which recorded moderate rainfall in the morning.
The National Center of Meteorology forecast strong winds, hail and thunderstorms, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The weather office also warned of potential near-zero visibility and flooding in some areas.
In the southern Jazan region, heavy rain was reported earlier in the day, affecting Jazan City for Basic and Transformative Industries, as well as the governorates of Ad-Darb, Beesh and the Farasan Islands.
The center issued alerts for Jazan, warning of thunderstorms, high waves and strong winds in the region.
Areas including Sabya, Abu Arish, Al-Harith, Ad-Dayer, Fifa, and Harub were highlighted in the advisory.
Residents were cautioned about the risk of reduced visibility and localized flooding in affected areas.
Earlier this week, parts of Saudi Arabia, including Asir, Makkah, and Madinah regions, experienced similar weather conditions.
Thunderstorms coupled with heavy rain caused temporary disruptions in traffic and daily activities.
The authorities issued several warnings during that period, urging residents to stay vigilant, especially in flood-prone areas.
The rainfall is caused by seasonal weather changes affecting parts of the Kingdom.
The Jazan region, in particular, often experiences heavy rains at this time of year, which can result in flash floods and other related challenges.
Authorities in Riyadh and Jazan have reiterated the importance of adhering to safety guidelines, particularly for motorists navigating slippery roads and areas prone to water accumulation.
Emergency response teams are on high alert to address any incidents caused by the adverse weather.
Residents in affected areas have been advised to follow updates and warnings issued by the center to ensure their safety as weather conditions develop.
Arab, EU diplomats arrive in Riyadh for meetings on Syria
- Riyadh is negotiating how to support the war-struck country’s transition
RIYADH: Top diplomats from the Middle East and Europe were arriving in the Saudi capital on Sunday to discuss Syria, as world powers push for stability after the fall of Bashar Assad.
The talks on Sunday will unfold in two sessions: the first will bring together Arab officials, while the second will feature wider participation, including from Turkiye, France, the European Union and the United Nations, a Saudi official told AFP on Saturday.
Syria’s new leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa, who led the main group in the alliance that overthrew Assad, is pushing for sanctions relief.
Western powers, including the United States and the European Union, imposed sanctions on Assad’s government over his brutal crackdown on anti-government protests in 2011, which triggered the civil war.
More than 13 years of conflict have killed over half a million Syrians, left infrastructure destroyed and the people impoverished, while millions have fled their homes, including to Europe.
The European Union’s top diplomat, Kaja Kallas, said on Friday that the 27-nation bloc could begin lifting sanctions if Syria’s new rulers took steps to form an inclusive government that protected minorities.
Saudi Arabia cut ties with Assad’s government in 2012 and had long openly championed his ouster. But in 2023 it hosted an Arab League meeting at which Assad was welcomed back into the regional fold.
This month the Gulf kingdom has sent food, shelter and medical supplies to Syria over land and by plane.
Riyadh is now negotiating how to support the war-struck country’s transition beyond that.
“This summit sends the message that Saudi Arabia wants to take the lead on coordinating the regional effort to support Syria’s recovery,” said Anna Jacobs, non-resident fellow at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington.
“But the big question is how much time and how many resources will Saudi Arabia devote to this effort? And what is possible with many of the sanctions remaining in place?”
The meetings on Sunday represent a continuation of talks on post-Assad Syria held last month in Jordan, the Saudi official said.
After those talks in Aqaba, diplomats called in a joint statement for a Syrian-led transition to “produce an inclusive, non-sectarian and representative government formed through a transparent process.”
The statement also stressed “respect for human rights” and the importance of combating “terrorism and extremism,” demanding all parties cease hostilities in Syria.
Turkiye’s foreign minister had confirmed he would attend Sunday’s meeting. Iraq’s top diplomat was also in Riyadh for the gathering, and AFP saw Germany’s foreign minister at the conference venue.
US Undersecretary of State John Bass is also set to attend, coming from talks in Turkiye that partly covered “the importance of regional stability, preventing Syria from being used as a base for terrorism, and ensuring the enduring defeat” of the Daesh group, the State Department said.
Riyadh is “positively approaching” the new leaders in Syria, looking to see if they can bring stability and “control the more extreme elements in (their) ranks,” Karim said.
The group that Sharaa leads, Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, is rooted in the Syrian branch of Al-Qaeda, but years ago broke that link and has sought to moderate its image.
Germany pledges $51m in aid for Syria
- Spending will ‘contribute to a peaceful transition for all,’ foreign minister says
- Decision announced on sidelines of Riyadh meeting on Syria hosted by Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: Germany will spend €50 million ($51.3 million) on humanitarian aid for Syria, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announced on the sidelines of the Riyadh meetings on Syria hosted by Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
“Syrians now need a quick dividend from the transition of power, and we continue to help those in Syria who have nothing as we have done in all of the years of civil war,” Baerbock said.
During a press briefing, the minister said: “We will provide another €50 million for food, emergency shelter, and medical care because we know that over the last year not only millions have suffered, didn’t have enough food, didn’t have enough treatment for the children, but we also know that the new displacement attacks the women and children, especially.
“We will stand with the people of Syria to contribute to a peaceful transition for everyone,” she said.
The foreign minister said that the aid is not only needed to help those in Syria, but also serves as an investment in security in Germany and throughout Europe.
Baerbock also expressed her gratitude to Saudi Arabia for gathering countries both within the region and from Europe “to discuss the countless unresolved issues facing Syria together.”
KSrelief continues humanitarian outreach in Syria, Yemen
RYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) continues with its humanitarian activities in Syria and Yemen with the distribution of food supplies, health kits and prosthetic services.
In the town of Beit Yashout, Jabla District of Syria’s Latakia Governorate, 499 families each received boxes containing a bag of flour as well as personal care kits on Saturday, state news agency SPA reported.
In Jindires of Aleppo Governorate, KSrelief distributed 1,476 food boxes and 1,476 health kits while in Talbiseh of Homs Governorate the aid agency on Thursday handed out to 86 families food parcels, each containing a 10-kilogram bag of flour, along with winter kits and personal care kits on Thursday.
This initiative is part of the Kingdom’s continuous humanitarian efforts, through KSrelief, to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people during various crises and hardships, SPA reported.
Meanwhile in Yemen, the Project for Operating Artificial Limbs and Rehabilitation Center in Taiz provided medical services to 434 beneficiaries who lost their limbs in December last year.
The center, being supported by KSrelief, delivered 1,613 services including the delivery, measurement and maintenance of prosthetic limbs, as well as physical therapy and specialized consultations.
UAE, Syria foreign ministers arrive in Riyadh
- Welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Saudi Deputy FM Waleed Al-Khuraiji
RIYADH: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the UAE deputy prime minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, arrived in Riyadh on Saturday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
He was welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji.
Sheikh Abdullah is in the Kingdom to attend an expanded ministerial meeting on Syria to be hosted by Saudi Arabia on Sunday, SPA added.
New Syrian foreign minister Asaad Al-Shaibani also arrived in Riyadh on Saturday evening to participate in the ministerial meeting.
He was also welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Al-Khuraiji.
