JEDDAH: The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) received $32 million in aid from the Saudi Fund for Development on Thursday. The amount will be allocated to meeting the infrastructural needs of UNRWA schools and health centers in the West Bank.
The announcement of the grant came at the Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem in the presence of UNRWA West Bank Director of Operations Scott Anderson and Palestinian officials.
Reacting to the announcement, Anderson thanked “the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its people for their continued support for UNRWA.”
“This generous support will improve and enhance services offered by the agency to refugees, and specifically enhance the educational program, which is a priority for UNRWA and the refugee community alike.”
Adnan Al-Ajarma, head of the People’s Committee for Services at the camp, also expressed his gratitude to the Kingdom for the important support and urged all countries to follow in the footsteps of the Kingdom by providing such support.
The grant will help fund the reconstruction and equipment of three health care facilities belonging to UNRWA in Dawra, Aida Refugee Camp, and Al-Fara Refugee Camp, as well as UNRWA’s schools for boys at camps in Jenin and Tulkarm. The aid will also help improve the educational environment at all UNRWA schools in the West Bank.
The organization said this support is part of a larger grant, valued at $67 million, for a project to be carried out in Gaza, the West Bank and Jordan. The grant was provided in accordance with an agreement signed last month between UNRWA and the Saudi Fund for Development. The organization praised the important role played by Saudi Arabia as the second largest supporter of UNRWA.
UNRWA thanks Kingdom for its $32 million aid for Palestine
UNRWA thanks Kingdom for its $32 million aid for Palestine
The founding economy: A blueprint for stability in the First Saudi State
- The establishment of the First Saudi State created a secure environment that facilitated the arrival of caravans, secured vast trade routes, and revived commerce across the Arabian Peninsula
RIYADH: The economy during the founding stage of the First Saudi State served as a fundamental pillar in building the nation, consolidating its influence, and ensuring its stability. This early economic growth was inextricably linked to achieving security, unifying regions, and organizing society—factors that directly stimulated trade, stabilized markets, and enhanced the foundations of daily life in Diriyah and its surrounding areas.
According to Dr. Abdullah Al-Saleh Al-Othaimeen's "Diriyah: Origins and Development during the First Saudi State," published by the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah), the founding economy stands as a historical model reflecting the reciprocal relationship between political stability and early economic prosperity.
The establishment of the First Saudi State created a secure environment that facilitated the arrival of caravans, secured vast trade routes, and revived commerce across the Arabian Peninsula.
Beyond its political and intellectual prominence, Diriyah emerged as a vibrant economic hub. Its active markets attracted merchants and students from across the region, all of whom benefited from the state-provided stability. The local society relied on diverse activities for its livelihood, including trade, agriculture, and livestock breeding, with horses and camels playing crucial roles in transportation, commerce, and securing roads.
The social and administrative organization upon which the state was founded ensured the continuous availability of goods and sustained market stability. Ultimately, the close relationship between public security and economic growth during this founding phase solidified Diriyah's position as a premier political and commercial center in the Arabian Peninsula.
