Saudi, Japanese officials discuss humanitarian efforts in Gaza

The mother of Palestinian boy Karam Qadadah, a hepatitis patient who was evacuated with his mother from Al-Shifa hospital during an Israeli raid, reacts next to his body after he died at Kamal Adwan hospital, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in the northern Gaza Strip, March 30, 2024. (REUTERS)
The mother of Palestinian boy Karam Qadadah, a hepatitis patient who was evacuated with his mother from Al-Shifa hospital during an Israeli raid, reacts next to his body after he died at Kamal Adwan hospital, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in the northern Gaza Strip, March 30, 2024. (REUTERS)
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Updated 02 April 2024
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Saudi, Japanese officials discuss humanitarian efforts in Gaza

Saudi, Japanese officials discuss humanitarian efforts in Gaza
  • 1.8 million donors contribute to $181 million fund for Palestinian relief in Saudi Arabia’s Sahem campaign

RIYADH: Ahmed bin Ali Al-Baiz, assistant supervisor-general for operations and programs at Saudi aid agency KSrelief, recently met with Japanese Special Envoy for Middle East Peace Tsukasa Uemura at the agency’s headquarters in Riyadh.

During the meeting, both sides discussed topics of mutual interest relating to humanitarian and relief affairs.

Al-Baiz reviewed the efforts provided by the Kingdom through KSrelief to the Palestinian people in Gaza.

HIGHLIGHT

So far, 44 relief flights have carried supplies weighing over 829 tonnes, including medical items, food, and shelter materials, for the Palestinian people in Gaza. Additionally, 20 ambulances containing essential medical equipment have also been delivered.

A fundraising campaign has been in place through the Sahem platform since the crisis began. Launched on Nov. 2, it has raised almost SR678 million ($181 million) and, by Monday, around 1.8 million people had donated.

Contributions can be made through Sahem’s website at sahem.ksrelief.org. Donors can also transfer funds directly to the campaign’s Al-Rajhi bank account or by downloading the Sahem app from the App Store or Google Play.

Al-Baiz said that, so far, 44 relief flights had carried supplies weighing over 829 tonnes that included medical items, food, and shelter materials. Some 20 ambulances containing essential medical equipment have also been delivered.

Furthermore, he added, a maritime bridge has been established with six relief ships carrying medical, shelter and food supplies weighing 4,966 tonnes. This brings the total relief delivered through both air and sea bridges to over 5,795 tonnes.

He also noted that KSrelief had signed four cooperation agreements to provide relief to Palestinian people in Gaza — with the UN Relief and Works Agency, the World Health Organization, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the World Food Programme — with a total value of SR150 million.

Additionally, another memorandum was signed with UNRWA providing financial support of $40 million to support its emergency appeal in Gaza, Al-Baiz added.

Since its inception in 2015, KSrelief has implemented 2,673 projects worth more than $6.5 billion in 98 countries, in cooperation with 175 local, regional and international partners. The bulk of the support has gone to Yemen ($4.3 billion), Syria ($391 million), Palestine ($370 million) and Somalia ($227 million).

KSrelief’s programs cover food security, health, sanitation, shelter, nutrition, education, telecommunications and logistics.

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KSrelief continues humanitarian outreach in Syria, Yemen

KSrelief continues humanitarian outreach in Syria, Yemen
Updated 12 January 2025
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KSrelief continues humanitarian outreach in Syria, Yemen

KSrelief continues humanitarian outreach in Syria, Yemen

RYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) continues with its humanitarian activities in Syria and Yemen with the distribution of food supplies, health kits and prosthetic services.

In the town of Beit Yashout, Jabla District of Syria’s Latakia Governorate, 499 families each received boxes containing a bag of flour as well as personal care kits on Saturday, state news agency SPA reported.

In Jindires of Aleppo Governorate, KSrelief distributed 1,476 food boxes and 1,476 health kits while in Talbiseh of Homs Governorate the aid agency on Thursday handed out to 86 families food parcels, each containing a 10-kilogram bag of flour, along with winter kits and personal care kits on Thursday.

This initiative is part of the Kingdom’s continuous humanitarian efforts, through KSrelief, to alleviate the suffering of the Syrian people during various crises and hardships, SPA reported.

Meanwhile in Yemen, the Project for Operating Artificial Limbs and Rehabilitation Center in Taiz provided medical services to 434 beneficiaries who lost their limbs in December last year.

The center, being supported by KSrelief, delivered 1,613 services including the delivery, measurement and maintenance of prosthetic limbs, as well as physical therapy and specialized consultations.


UAE, Syria foreign ministers arrive in Riyadh

UAE, Syria foreign ministers arrive in Riyadh
Updated 11 January 2025
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UAE, Syria foreign ministers arrive in Riyadh

UAE, Syria foreign ministers arrive in Riyadh
  • Welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Saudi Deputy FM Waleed Al-Khuraiji

RIYADH: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, the UAE deputy prime minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, arrived in Riyadh on Saturday, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

He was welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji.

Sheikh Abdullah is in the Kingdom to attend an expanded ministerial meeting on Syria to be hosted by Saudi Arabia on Sunday, SPA added.

New Syrian foreign minister Asaad Al-Shaibani also arrived in Riyadh on Saturday evening to participate in the ministerial meeting.

He was also welcomed at King Khalid International Airport by Al-Khuraiji.


Saudi Arabia condemns attack on Chad’s presidential palace

Saudi Arabia condemns attack on Chad’s presidential palace
Updated 11 January 2025
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Saudi Arabia condemns attack on Chad’s presidential palace

Saudi Arabia condemns attack on Chad’s presidential palace
  • The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, involved gunmen attempting to storm the palace

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Saturday strongly condemned the recent attack on the presidential palace in N’Djamena, Chad, which left 19 people dead, including a soldier guarding the complex, and injured others.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s steadfast support for Chad’s security and stability, while rejecting any actions that threaten the country’s peace, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

In its statement, the Ministry extended heartfelt condolences to the family of the fallen soldier and to the government and people of Chad. The Kingdom also wished a swift recovery for those injured in the assault.

The attack, which occurred on Wednesday, involved gunmen reportedly linked to Boko Haram attempting to storm the presidential palace, prompting a fierce battle.

The Chadian government confirmed that 18 attackers from a 24-member commando unit were killed in the fighting, alongside one security personnel. Tanks were deployed to secure the area.


GCC secretary general receives New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia

GCC secretary general receives New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia
Updated 11 January 2025
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GCC secretary general receives New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia

GCC secretary general receives New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia
  • Al-Budaiwi congratulated Kingston on his appointment as New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, wishing him success in his duties

RIYADH: Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jasem Al-Budaiwi recently received New Zealand’s Ambassador to the Kingdom Charles Kingston at the General Secretariat’s headquarters in Riyadh.

Al-Budaiwi congratulated Kingston on his appointment as New Zealand’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, wishing him success in his duties, the General Secretariat wrote in a report.

During the meeting, they also discussed a number of topics of mutual interest, notably the progress of negotiations for the free trade agreement between the GCC countries and updates on the joint action plan between the two sides. They also exchanged views on several regional and international issues.​

 

 


Saudi authority issues health warning on food import

Saudi authority issues health warning on food import
Updated 11 January 2025
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Saudi authority issues health warning on food import

Saudi authority issues health warning on food import

RIYADH: The Saudi Food and Drug Authority issued a warning about Country Butcher Boy beef pepperoni, manufactured in the UAE.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the 250-gram packages with an expiration date of March 1, 2025, are contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes, a bacterium posing serious health risks, confirmed by lab tests.

The authority advised the public to avoid consuming the product and dispose of any units they may have.

Steps have been taken to remove the contaminated product from the market, and regulatory action is being pursued against the importing company, the SPA reported.

Violations of food laws can result in severe penalties, including up to 10 years in prison, fines of up to SR10 million ($2.6 million), or both.

The authority reiterated its commitment to food safety and will continue taking action against violators. Consumers can report food safety concerns to the authority’s call center at 19999.