Saudi Arabia reaffirms global humanitarian efforts for needy, refugees and displaced

Saudi Arabia on Thursday reaffirmed its commitment to continue strengthening its support for refugees and displaced around the world, on the occasion of World Refugee Day.

In a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) said the humanitarian support “include all countries of the world without discrimination.”

Since its founding in May 2015 as an international center specialized in humanitarian aid, KSRelief has so far carried out 2,984 projects in 99 countries as it continues to expand its work for the needy and people affected by wars and calamities.

Support for refugees and displaced people in Syria, Palestine, Myanmar and Yemen alone were carried out through 424 humanitarian projects with a value of over $1.18 billion. The projects include food and agricultural security, protection and health services, shelter, early recovery and education.

KSrelief also supported those displaced in other countries by implementing 304 multiple projects worth more than $2.19 billion,

Saudi Arabia is also host to a big number of people from countries affected by war. Refugees from Yemen, Syria, and Myanmar alone constitute 5.5 percent of the Kingdom’s population, said the SPA report.

Per the latest census by the Kingdom’s General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT), the Kingdom had a total population of 32.175 million. That would place the number of virtual refugees from the Yemen, Syria and Myanmar at over 1.76 million.

As noted by SPA, the Kingdom provides these visitors “with the opportunity for free treatment and education, and is keen on their integration into society.”

Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian aid and relief efforts actually goes back decades.

According to the Saudi non-profit organization Salam, the Kingdom’s total spending on humanitarian aid in the past four decades has reached over $115 billion, covering more than 90 countries.

“Saudi Arabia has been providing aid to different countries, solving humanitarian crises, and relieving people suffering after wars or natural disasters. These aids are granted without any bias or prejudice to religion or ethnicity,” said Salam in its website salam4cc.org.