Saudi Arabia a global leader in supporting the Syrian people
THE article titled “It’s about more than the money” written by Foreign Editor Shannon Ebrahim and published in the Cape Times on September 11, 2015 refers.
The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia would like to shed some light on the Kingdom’s efforts to support Syrian brothers and sisters during their distress, although Saudi Arabia initially did not intend to speak about its efforts to support the Syrian people, as it has.
From the beginning, Saudi Arabia has dealt with the situation from a religious and humane perspective, and did not wish to boast about its efforts or attempt to gain media coverage.
However, the Kingdom now considers it important to discuss its efforts with the following appropriate facts and figures regarding the action taken by the Kingdom:
The Kingdom has received about 2.5 million Syrians since the beginning of the conflict. In order to ensure their dignity and safety, the Kingdom adopted a policy that does not treat them as refugees or place them in refugee camps.
They have been given the freedom to move about the country and those who wish to remain in Saudi Arabia (hundreds of thousands) have been given legal residency status.
Their residency comes with the right to receive free medical care, to join the labour market and attend schools and universities.
This was contained in a royal decree in 2012 that instructed public schools to accept Syrian pupils. According to government statistics, the public school system has accepted more than 100 000 Syrian pupils.
The Kingdom’s efforts were not limited to accepting our Syrian brothers and sisters after their crisis; it also extended its efforts to support and care for millions of Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries such as Jordan, Lebanon and others. Efforts included providing them with humanitarian assistance, in co-ordination with the host governments and with international human aid organisations. Aid was provided, in cash and kind.
The aid provided by Saudi Arabia to the Syrian people totals about $700 million (R9.4 billion), according to the statistics of the Third International Humanitarian Pledging Conference for Syria, which took place in Kuwait on March 31, 2015. Government aid and aid provided by the national campaign are included in that number.
Humanitarian aid provided to Syrians by the Kingdom consisted of food, medical, academic and residential sup- plies, and included the establishment of Saudi specialised clinics in refugee camps, especially at Zaatari Camp in Jordan. The Kingdom was able to provide medical care in the form of immunisation, preventive treatment and medical procedures. In addition, Saudi Arabia sponsored a large number of Syrian families living in Lebanon and Syria (specifically, through paying for their rent and living costs).
Finally, it is apparent from the previous facts that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will remain a leader among other countries supporting the Syrian people and it is impossible to outbid its efforts in this matter, or to question its position in any way or form. Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia
It also extended its efforts to support and care for millions in neighbouring countries
Saudi Arabia