RIYADH: Saudi aid agency KSrelief and the UK on Monday signed a $5 million cooperation agreement with UNICEF to help tackle malnutrition in Somalia.

The deal was signed by KSrelief General Supervisor Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah and British Minister for Development and Africa Andrew Mitchell at the agency’s headquarters in Riyadh, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

KSrelief and the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office will each contribute $2.5 million to UNICEF.

The funds will provide access to nutrition services, water and personal hygiene supplies in 15 high risk areas of Somalia, benefiting 101,000 children.

The deal is within the framework of joint humanitarian and relief projects between the Kingdom and the FCDO to alleviate the suffering of the Somali people.

The announcement was made as part of the second annual UK-Saudi Strategic Dialogue on Humanitarian Aid and International Development, which also discussed “providing more aid into Gaza and encouraging progress toward peace in Sudan,” the FCDO said in a statement.

The two countries have already committed $22 million in joint funding, delivering vital aid and providing famine relief and humanitarian support in Somalia and Sudan.

Other cooperation programs through KSrelief and the Saudi Fund for Development were expected to be delivered in Sudan, Yemen, Bangladesh and Ukraine, the FCDO said.

“We look forward to enhancing our technical experience and capacity building by building upon the strong foundation established during our previous dialogue, which presents an invaluable opportunity to solidify our future direction, explore new areas of cooperation and further demonstrate the transformative potential of our partnership,” Al-Rabeeah said.

“Officials from both sides are actively identifying promising opportunities for further collaboration. KSrelief sees immense potential to leverage our respective strengths in areas like health interventions, education infrastructure development and livelihood creation programs.”

Mitchell said: “The UK is working with Saudi Arabia and other partners to support those whose lives have been affected by conflict around the world.

“I am delighted to be in Riyadh to agree a way forward to scale up significantly joint funding which will go a long way to supporting those people and communities who need it most, building on today’s announcement in Somalia and looking to further support people in Yemen, Ukraine, Sudan, as well as the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.

“I also discussed the need to bring the conflict in Gaza to a sustainable end with my Saudi partners. The UK remains focused on achieving an immediate pause in the fighting, securing the release of hostages and ensuring aid reaches those who need it.”

In separate talks, Al-Rabeeah and Mitchell discussed matters of common interest related to relief and humanitarian affairs around the world, ways to enhance cooperation and topics included in the Second Strategic Dialogue for Development and Humanitarian Aid between the two countries.

The Saudi Fund for Development will also sign a deal with Mitchell during his visit to strengthen cooperation in line with the UN sustainable development goals.

RIYADH: The inaugural National Greening Forum, which was organized by the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development & Combating Desertification, took place in Riyadh on Monday to look at the Kingdom’s efforts in afforestation and combating climate change.

Adel Al-Jubeir, the Kingdom’s climate envoy and Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs, took to the stage to speak of cementing the country’s role within the global community.

He said: “Climate and afforestation are part of the Kingdom’s policy regarding dealing with climate change and the environment.

“This is a big part of Vision 2030 in terms of quality of life. The Kingdom is part of the international community. Anything that happens globally affects the Kingdom, and vice versa.

“Having clean air and a healthy environment matters to that community, and afforestation is part of facing climate change.”

The minister added that drought had historically caused conflicts, population displacement, and health issues which had made land rehabilitation crucial not only for the environment but also for global stability, security, and quality of life.

Al-Jubeir said: “As the largest exporter of oil globally, the Kingdom feels a responsibility towards the climate, and its goal is to become the leading nation in this sector, and not a country which follows global standards. We need to set these standards.”

The envoy recently attended the World Economic Forum Special Meeting, hosted for the first time by the Kingdom in Riyadh, which discussed opportunities for global collaboration and growth. He said that the Kingdom’s participation was a clear sign of its pivotal role in confronting international challenges.

He added: “Climate is related to multiple sectors, including the economy. Floods and natural disasters cause a rise in the price of goods, impact machinery and delivery trucks, which also alters delivery periods and costs, and also impacts the consumer. These things are directly correlated to our everyday lives, not just locally but globally.”

He said that nature-based solutions were pivotal points of discussion at global platforms like the World Economic Forum, adding that the world needs further collaboration to combat such issues sustainably.

He said: “I think there must be conviction with this challenge. There are differences in how to reach the desired goal between developed and developing countries, but I do not think that there is any country that opposes reaching this goal.”

The Kingdom believes the issue should be dealt with comprehensively and logically, taking into consideration such factors as afforestation, minimizing consumption, technological development, carbon capture methods, rehabilitation, and establishing nature reserves.

Al-Jubeir said: “For example, European countries are concentrating on hydrocarbons, petrol, and gas, but they forget animals, industry, cement, and chemicals.”

The National Greening Forum saw the inauguration of the Discover Nature program which invites environmental experts and enthusiasts to discover, document, and learn. The Saudi Green Initiative is also well on its way to achieving its ambitious target of growing 10 billion trees, reflecting the Kingdom’s commitment to addressing its environmental challenges and improving quality of life.

The minister emphasized that awareness, knowledge, and achieving objectives were at the heart of these initiatives.

He added: “Sustainability isn’t just planting a tree; it needs follow-up and care for it to grow. It’s a continuous act, not just a one shot.”