Saudi Humanitarian Aid to Three Nations’ International Organisations, Including Syria

Saudi Arabia, through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, has inked cooperative agreements with the World Health Organisation and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

In addition, it seeks to aid in humanitarian endeavours in Syria, Sudan, and Ukraine on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Enhancing Global Cooperation

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre have reportedly inked two agreements for cooperative efforts.

These agreements aim to provide support for the centre’s humanitarian work in Sudan with a value of one million dollars and in Ukraine with a value of two million dollars. The centre aims to enhance collaborative cooperation with UN entities and humanitarian agencies to provide support to those impacted by diverse worldwide crises and adversities.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, General Supervisor of the King Salman Centre and Advisor to the Saudi Royal Court, and Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, signed the agreement.

Moreover, Msuya observed, during a meeting with Dr. Al-Rabeeah, themes of mutual concern pertaining to humanitarian and relief affairs, and expressed her appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian and relief efforts on behalf of people impacted and in need globally.

Additionally, the centre inked a $4,702,000 collaborative cooperation agreement with the World Health Organisation to assist emergency and speciality medical services in areas impacted by the northwest Syrian earthquake.

By enhancing the quality of primary, secondary, and specialised healthcare and supporting dialysis activities in 20 centres in northwest Syria, the agreement seeks to address the health needs of both the host community and the displaced in that region.

It also aims to slow the spread of epidemics by establishing a safe and healthy environment that will lessen the suffering of the most vulnerable members of society, helping over 1,201,000 people.

Additional Agreement with WHO

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the World Health Organisation, and Dr. Al-Rabeeah signed the agreement. The latter thanked the General Supervisor of the Centre for the new contribution to the organisation’s work in northwest Syria and Ukraine, stating that it amounted to approximately $15 million to guarantee basic healthcare access for the most vulnerable groups.

This is an expansion of Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian efforts, spearheaded by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, to support and assist individuals impacted by the earthquake in Syria.

Notably, at the UN General Assembly’s high-level week, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, met with Geir Pedersen, the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Syria.

Likewise, they reviewed the activities of the Arab Ministerial Contact Committee and Syria, exchanged opinions on regional developments and their effects on the area, and talked about collaboration between the Kingdom and the UN over the Syrian matter during the meeting.

The ambassador of the Kingdom to the United States of America, Princess Reema bint Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, was present during the meeting.

Furthermore, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre and the International Medical Corps earlier this year signed a cooperative programme under which the two will carry out humanitarian and relief efforts, improve the capacities of cadres, promote women’s and children’s health, exchange invitations to significant international events and activities, and collaboratively coordinate the preparation of international humanitarian events.

The agreement is part of the centre’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its strategic partnerships and degree of cooperation with foreign partners to assist humanitarian efforts and improve its internal processes.