KSRelief chief praises Saudi humanitarian role
NEW YORK: Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, adviser at the Royal Court and general supervisor of King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid (KSRelief), praised the pioneering Saudi role represented by KSRelief, and its commitment to international humanitarian law in line with Shariah.
At a press conference on Thursday in New York attended by Abdullah Al-Mouallimi, the permanent representative of Saudi Arabia to the UN, Dr. Al-Rabeeah reviewed the KSRelief vision, mission and mechanisms of work with the UN and other international organizations.
“The Kingdom was concerned about the humanitarian situation in Yemen. KSRelief programs reach all governorates of Yemen. It made great efforts to help the Yemeni people, including areas controlled by the Houthis,” he said.
He said there were 153 projects in Yemen in areas such as relief, humanitarian and shelter aid, environmental sanitation programs, and agricultural and water support programs. KSRelief reaches all parts of Yemen through 86 national and local partners.
Regarding the Syrian issue, Al-Rabeeah said that “the Kingdom was one of the first countries to support the Syrian people. The Kingdom received 2.5 million Syrians, including 291,342 Syrian refugees living in its territory as honored guests. Hundreds of thousands were allowed to enter the labor market.”
The Kingdom guaranteed the education of 114,000 Syrian students in its schools free of charge, and supported millions of Syrian refugees in neighboring countries.
He stressed the Kingdom’s interest in the humanitarian situation in Iraq, Somalia and all affected countries. “Through the center, the Kingdom provided assistance to 38 countries.”
Dr. Al-Rabeeah said that the Kingdom had responded to the UN’s urgent appeal in April 2015, and pledged the full amount of the appeal that reached $274 million. It also pledged $150 million at the Yemen Donors Conference in Geneva on April 25, 2017.
KSRelief responded to the UN appeal, represented by UNICEF and WHO, for cholera epidemic needs with an amount of $66.7 million. Al-Rabeeah said KSRelief would support the World Health Organization with $2.8 million.