RIYADH: The winners of the King Khalid Awards were announced here ON Thursday. They included several organizations and individuals operating nonprofit development projects across the country.
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman will hand out the prizes worth SR1.5 million on Dec. 8 at a gala event in the capital, according to Asir Gov. Prince Faisal bin Khalid, chairman of the awards committee.
At a press conference here on Thursday, Prince Faisal said the awards honored Saudi citizens involved in initiatives to build their communities. He said Abeer Abdul Aziz Al-Nuwaiser won by 61 percent of votes to take first place for her development project “Mawakib Al-Ajr.”
Second place went to Ahmed Zayed Al-Maliki for his initiative to help people with disabilities find jobs. He received 22 percent of the votes. He runs a website that matches firms with those seeking jobs.
Saud bin Hamad Al-Dubayan received 17 percent of votes for third place for his online awareness initiative that publishes Arabic articles and videos in several scientific disciplines.
According to Prince Faisal, the first place winner in the development section, with a prize of SR500,000 went to Al-Bir Society in Al-Ahsa, which offers health and special needs services for 35,000 people.
The second place winner of SR300,000 went to the Charitable Society for the Care of Orphans in the Eastern Province serving 2,379 beneficiaries; and third place, winning SR200,000, went to Majed bin Abdulaziz Society for Development and Social Services in Jeddah, serving 1,484 people.
According to Prince Faisal, two employees working for the winner in this category would get fully paid scholarships on leadership and management development for nonprofit organizations.
The winners of the category for best sustainable development practices and social responsibility, were in first place Binzagr Unilever Limited (Saudi Arabia), a nonprofit facility operating in the field of consumer products to reduce the impact of production and consumption on the environment.
Second place went to Saudi Investment Bank, while third place was shared by Saudi Arabia Fertilizers Company, Special Direction, and the Middle East Company for Paper Industry.
Prince Faisal said that the aim of the awards was to support individuals and organizations that were doing innovative work to develop the country across a wide range of sectors.
King Khalid awards go to development projects
King Khalid awards go to development projects
KSrelief and UNHCR officials discuss enhanced humanitarian support in Syria
- An estimated 6.8 million Syrians remain displaced within the country, while more than 5.5 million have sought refuge in neighboring countries
DAMASCUS: Officials from the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees met in Damascus on Sunday to discuss coordinated efforts to assist the Syrian people, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The meeting, focused on bolstering humanitarian and relief operations in the region, was attended by Abdullah bin Saleh Al-Harees, charge d’affaires of the Saudi Embassy in Syria.
During the discussions, UNHCR officials praised their strategic partnership with KSrelief, highlighting the importance of their joint initiatives to support refugees and displaced persons in Syria.
Both parties also reiterated their commitment to ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to essential resources and services to live with dignity.
The humanitarian crisis in Syria remains one of the most pressing in the world, especially after the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime in December of last year, following over a decade of civil war.
Assad’s ouster came after years of intensified international sanctions and a lightning offensive across key cities by opposition militias, culminating in his government’s collapse.
An estimated 6.8 million Syrians remain displaced within the country, while more than 5.5 million have sought refuge in neighboring countries such as Turkiye, Lebanon, and Jordan.
Humanitarian organizations like KSrelief and UNHCR play a crucial role in addressing these challenges, providing essential aid such as food, shelter, and medical care.
In Syria, UNHCR has been a critical player in responding to the humanitarian crisis, assisting the millions of displaced Syrians and advocating for sustainable solutions to their plight. Its collaboration with partners such as KSrelief has been key to addressing the evolving needs of those affected by the conflict.
Saudi leadership congratulates Kuwait on success of 26th Gulf Cup
- The 26th Arabian Gulf Cup ended on Saturday with Bahrain defeating Oman 2-1 in the final in Kuwait City
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s King Salman sent a cable of congratulations to the emir of Kuwait for his country’s success in organizing the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup, Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday.
The 26th Arabian Gulf Cup ended on Saturday with Bahrain defeating Oman 2-1 in the final in Kuwait City.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sent similar cables of congratulations to Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Kuwaiti Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, wishing the country continued progress and prosperity.
Saudi Arabia gifts 100 tonnes of dates to Pakistan
- Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Al-Malki presented the gift to the Pakistani side on behalf of KSrelief
RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief has delivered 100 tonnes of dates as a gift from the Kingdom to Pakistan.
Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf Al-Malki presented the gift to the Pakistani side on behalf of KSrelief at the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Al-Malki thanked King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their humanitarian efforts and support to countries worldwide.
The director general of the military wing of Pakistan’s Cabinet Division, Brig. Alamgeer Ayub, also expressed thanks and appreciation to Saudi Arabia for the gift.
He said that it reflects the deep and enduring fraternal ties between the two countries.
Ayub highlighted that the Kingdom has consistently supported the Pakistani people during times of crisis.
Heritage Commission, Motoko Katakura Foundation sign MoU to preserve desert culture in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: The Heritage Commission signed a memorandum of understanding with the Japanese Motoko Katakura Foundation for Desert Culture in Riyadh on Sunday.
Jasser bin Sulaiman Al-Harbash, CEO of the Heritage Commission, and Hiroshi Nawata, chairman of the Motoko Katakura Foundation, agreed to collaborate in the cultural heritage sector.
The Japanese foundation is named after Motoko Katakura, an anthropologist who studied Bedouin communities in Saudi Arabia and the surrounding region.
The MoU seeks to enhance research on cultural heritage, covering both tangible and intangible aspects, such as traditions, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The Motoko Katakura Foundation will hold seminars about its work preserving the desert culture and the archeological sites of Al-Dafi Port and Mardouma in the area of Jubail, eastern Saudi Arabia.
The Heritage Commission will also benefit from the Japanese experience in research and documentation, involving local communities to preserve heritage and showcase the richness of Saudi desert culture, SPA added.
Saudi project clears 1,151 Houthi mines in Yemen
- The total included 32 anti-tank mines, 1,115 unexploded ordnances and four explosive devices, according to a recent report
RIYADH: Members of Saudi Arabia’s Project Masam removed 1,151 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week.
The total included 32 anti-tank mines, 1,115 unexploded ordnances and four explosive devices, according to a recent report.
Ousama Al-Gosaibi, the initiative’s managing director, said a total of 477,583 mines had been cleared since its inception in 2018.
The explosives were planted indiscriminately and posed a threat to civilians, including children, women and the elderly.
The demining operations took place in Marib, Aden, Jouf, Shabwa, Taiz, Hodeidah, Lahij, Sanaa, Al-Bayda, Al-Dhale and Saada.
The initiative trains local demining engineers and provides them with modern equipment. It also offers support to Yemenis injured by the devices.
Teams are tasked with clearing villages, roads and schools to facilitate safe movement for civilians and the delivery of humanitarian aid.
About 5 million people have been forced to flee their homes since the start of the conflict in Yemen, many of them displaced by the presence of land mines.
