UN chief lauds KSRelief’s global efforts

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres meets with Chinese state councilor Yang Jiechi (not pictured) at Zhongnanhai on April 8, 2018 in Beijing, China. (REUTERS)

• Guterres expressed his appreciation of the initiative of King Salman to provide $50 million to UNRWA
• Kingdom has provided over $65.9 billion aid to distressed people across the world

JEDDAH: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has lauded the efforts made by Saudi Arabia to provide relief to distressed Yemenis.
He praised the role of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief) saying: “It is one of the most important relief operators in dozens of countries.” The UN chief said KSRelief works professionally to alleviate the sufferings of people in disaster-hit and conflict-ridden areas around the world. “It has established partnerships with the most important UN organizations and NGOs,” he said in a statement issued following a visit to the KSRelief offices.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, an adviser at the Royal Court and KSRelief general supervisor, received the UN chief.
Guterres also expressed his appreciation of the initiative of King Salman to provide $50 million to UNRWA for the support of the Palestinian people. “This is an example to be followed by other donors,” he said.
Welcoming the UN chief, Dr. Rabiah stressed the importance of joint cooperation between KSRelief and the UN organizations. He said the Kingdom has provided over $65.9 billion aid to distressed people across the world in over 20 years.
Since its inception 3 years ago, KSRelief has carried out 367 humanitarian projects in 40 countries, Al-Rabeeah added.
He said that in Yemen alone the Riyadh-based organization had carried out 217 projects in different governorates.
The KSRelief chief also highlighted the efforts of the Kingdom and members of the Arab coalition in supporting humanitarian efforts by launching a comprehensive operations plan in Yemen, which included reopening of 21 ports, land and air crossings and its efforts to support the Central Bank of Yemen to ensure the stability of the economy.
Al-Rabeeah spoke about the situation of human rights in Yemen, in particular the physical violations committed by the Houthi militias against civilians that amount to war crimes, including preventing locals from getting water and food, destroying wells and water stations and shelling of residential areas, killing and injuring hundreds of civilians, including women and children. The violations also included recruitment of child soldiers and using them as human shields in the armed conflict. The Center offered many rehabilitation programs to address this issue.