RIYADH: Applauding the valuable contribution from Saudi Arabia to help meet the urgent food needs of the most vulnerable in war-torn Yemen, a top official from the UN World Food Programme said that the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center helps provide vital emergency food assistance.
In an exclusive interview with Arab News, Richard Ragan, WFP representative in Yemen, said the UN agency was “proud” to work with KSrelief “not only for their financial generosity, but their partnership.”
He said: “For us who work in the Gulf region, it’s really important that organizations like KSrelief emerged as key partners for the WFP.”
People in Yemen are now hopeful that a longer-lasting peace can be achieved, said Ragan.
“The truce expired several months ago, but it’s largely…stayed in place,” he said, adding that the agency was able to operate “even during the height of the conflict.”
He said: “One of the things that we can be most proud of is that we averted a large-scale famine.”
With the support of KSrelief, Ragan said, the WFP was able to aid over 20 million people on a monthly basis.
“It shows that if the world really concentrates on the issue and does not hold back on the financial side, we can keep this from happening again and at another place,” he said.
“Yemen has fought this conflict for eight years. In fact, it’s been fighting since the early 2000s. So, now is the time for a focus on creating stable systems, getting the economy on track, letting people return to some sort of normalcy, economically and professionally.”
Ragan added: “There is a real desire on the part of Yemenis who are living outside of the country to be able to return home, and that’s certainly a positive attribute.”
The WFP representative acknowledged that there is still much uncertainty for the future: Air travel still has not opened up in the north, the Hodeidah port is still close to most commercial traffic, and the infrastructure throughout the country has been sorely damaged or neglected. Returning to a state of stability is a process that will take time, he said.
“We are at the beginning of it, and the peace process should continue in the direction that we think it’s (going),” said Ragan.
“For us at the WFP, what that means is that we have to get smarter. We are feeding 20 million people today, out of 31 million people — that’s just not tenable for the long term. It creates a sense of entitlement, providing sort of this large-scale humanitarian assistance over the long term. It undermines the economy.
“We have to rethink how we do our programming,” he said, adding that creating economic opportunities and rebuilding infrastructure will be key to achieving a sustainable, long-term impact on the country.
KSrelief helps World Food Programme’s aid efforts in Yemen
https://arab.news/55y2t
KSrelief helps World Food Programme’s aid efforts in Yemen
- The UN agency provides vital emergency food assistance to the war-torn country
- With the support of KSrelief, Ragan said, the WFP was able to aid over 20 million people on a monthly basis.
Mawhiba to host ‘Beyond Creative Minds’ conference this month
- The organization, which nurtures the talents of gifted students, says event is a ‘global platform for talented and creative youth to collaborate in building a prosperous future’
- It is expected to attract experts and researchers in the fields of science, technology and innovation from more than 50 countries
RIYADH: Mawhiba, an organization that works to nurture the talents of gifted students in scientific fields, will hold its third international conference this month with the theme “Beyond Creative Minds.”
Its Global Conference for Giftedness and Creativity will take place from Nov. 24 to 26 at King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center in Riyadh. Khalid Al-Sharif, the organization’s acting secretary-general, described the event as a “global platform for talented and creative youth to collaborate in building a prosperous future through the exchange of ideas and expertise.”
He told the Saudi Press Agency: “The event reflects the Kingdom’s commitment to supporting and empowering talent and promoting a culture of innovation to address future global challenges.”
The conference is expected to attract experts and researchers in the fields of science, technology and innovation from more than 50 countries, many of whom will give keynote speeches, take part in panel discussions and lead workshops.
Al-Sharif said the event will include a “‘creathon’ aimed at finding creative solutions to contemporary challenges. Attendees will also have access to exhibitions and various cultural visits scheduled alongside the conference.”
He added that Mawhiba, more formally known as the King Abdulaziz and His Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, will continue to develop talent, support creativity and provide resources to nurture the potential of gifted individuals. He thanked Minister of Education Yousef Al-Benyan for the substantial support he provides for the biennial conference.
Saudi and French ministers discuss cultural cooperation
- Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan and Rachida Dati discussed cultural exchanges and cooperation relating to museums, libraries, theater, the arts, cuisine, heritage and film production
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s minister of culture, Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, and his French counterpart, Rachida Dati, held talks in Paris on Wednesday on cultural cooperation.
They discussed cultural exchanges between their countries and cooperation relating to museums, libraries, theater, the arts, cuisine, heritage and film production.
Riyadh and Paris are looking to strengthen partnerships, nurture talent through training programs for workers in cultural sectors, and exchange expertise, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The Kingdom’s assistant culture minister, Rakan Al-Touq, also took part in the meeting.
Riyadh governor receives Albania’s envoy
Riyadh Gov. Prince Faisal bin Bandar received Ambassador of Albania to the Kingdom Saimir Bala in Riyadh on Wednesday.
They discussed various topics of common interest, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Meanwhile, Eastern Province Gov. Prince Saud bin Nayef bin Abdulaziz met with Ukrainian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Anatolii Petrenko in Dammam on Wednesday.
Prince Saud welcomed the ambassador to the Eastern Province. During the meeting, the two exchanged friendly talks and discussed a number of topics.
Biofach offers look into Saudi Arabia’s agricultural growth, future
- The Kingdom and MENA region represent an emerging market for organic food, says organizing official
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia is among the Gulf Cooperation Council nations taking significant steps to invest in developing its organic food and beverage sector, which has experienced a growth surge in recent years.
The three-day Biofach Saudi Arabia, which was held alongside Saudi Organic Food Day and concluded on Wednesday, is a key platform showcasing the Kingdom’s commitment to developing its agricultural future.
Biofach was organized by 1st Arabia Tradeshows and Conferences in collaboration with NurnbergMesse, with support from the Saudi Ministry for Energy, Water and Agriculture and the Saudi Organic Farming Association.
Christian Beyer, manager of international events at NurnbergMesse, highlighted the potential of the Middle East and North Africa region: “The MENA region, especially Saudi Arabia, represents an emerging market for organic food that was estimated at USD 7 billion in 2022 and can expect ongoing growth.”
Recognizing the importance of organic farming for food security and environmental sustainability, Saudi authorities are focusing on enhancing rural production and improving supply chains to ensure organic products reach consumers efficiently.
The exhibition’s knowledge-exchange platform addressed local challenges, including effective water and fertilizer management, which are crucial for the region’s arid climate.
Among the exhibitors was the Saudi company Aamal Al-Andalus, which provides organic fertilizers to address soil degradation and declining fertility. Their products are said to help treat and reduce environmental stress, increase agricultural production, and improve the quality of crops to enhance export opportunities.
Youssif Abdulqader, sales manager and engineer at Aamal Al-Andalus, told Arab News: “Food around the world is increasingly going organic, particularly when all inputs in the plants come from organic and safe sources.”
He noted that this shift is largely driven by the health issues linked to consuming fruits and vegetables produced through conventional farming methods, which are often less beneficial or even harmful to human well-being.
Abdulqader explained: “Conventional farming practices are generally well-structured and effective; however, they face challenges such as the excessive use of pesticides and their persistence in the soil.”
Farmers often encounter bacterial issues within their crops that need to be addressed cost-effectively to maximize profitability.
“This is where organic alternatives can be prohibitively expensive, prompting conventional farmers to seek cheaper, often internationally banned options,” he added.
He added that the use of pesticides results in chemical residues that can remain in the plant’s environment.
These residues pose significant health risks when consumers ingest vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes.
“There is a concern that these chemicals may contain heavy metals that the human body cannot process, leading to serious health issues such as cancer, kidney failure, and liver diseases, which are frequently associated with traditional farming practices,” he explained.
Prophet’s Mosque imam attends India peace forum
- More than 50,000 Muslims attended the event, which was broadcast on several media platforms and garnered more than 4 million views
RIYADH: The imam and khatib of the Prophet’s Mosque, Sheikh Abdullah Al-Baijan, took part in a peace conference themed “Islam is the Religion of Humanity and Peace” during his recent visit to India
More than 50,000 Muslims attended the event, which was broadcast on several media platforms and garnered more than 4 million views, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
As guest of honor, Al-Baijan delivered a speech in which he said that Islam was a religion of security and peace. He warned against divisions among Muslims and said that such discord threatened national unity, led to chaos and could incite wars.
Minister for Wakf and Haj in the government of Kerala Shri. V. Abdurahiman also spoke at the event, praising Saudi Arabia for its efforts in promoting Islam, peace and moderation.
Al-Baijan also joined the 35th All India Ahle Hadith Conference in New Delhi, where he commended Saudi Arabia’s efforts, led by its leadership, to promote security, peace, stability and the safeguarding of human dignity globally.
