NEW YORK: Saudi Arabia has extended aid to disaster-affected people irrespective of their religion, race or color, said Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, adviser at the Royal Court and general supervisor of the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid (KSRelief).
Addressing a symposium at the UN headquarters in New York titled “Partners for a sustainable peace in Yemen,” he said Saudi development assistance stood at 1.9 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2014, compared to the UN-approved rate of 0.70 percent.
Besides hosting Yemeni and Syrian refugees, the Kingdom supported 231 projects in 38 countries at a cost of $761.9 million, he said.
The countries include Yemen, Syria, Myanmar, Somalia, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Tajikistan, Iraq, Palestine and Ethiopia, he added.
The Kingdom responded to an urgent call by the UN in April 2015 and paid the full commitment of $274 million, Al-Rabeeah said.
It also paid $150 million at a donor conference for Yemen in Geneva on April 25, 2017, he added.
This year up to Aug. 10, the Kingdom provided $221.7 million to support anti-cholera programs in Yemen, and $66.7 million in response to a call from the World Health Organization (WHO) for additional funds to combat the disease in that country, he said.
Touching on KSRelief’s key achievements in Yemen, he said 4.3 million Yemenis have received assistance, and 2.5 million receive monthly assistance from the World Food Program (WFP) financed by the center.
From April 2015 to August 2017, Saudi assistance to Yemen stood at $8.27 billion, while that provided by KSRelief stood at $911.9 million.
Assistance to Yemenis in the Kingdom reached $1.13 billion, while development assistance to Yemen reached $2.9 billion. The Kingdom also provided $1 billion to support Yemen’s central bank, he said.
Al-Rabeeah explored challenges faced by KSRelief in Yemen, including poverty, food insecurity and malnutrition among children.
He also touched on the looting of relief aid by the Houthis in Yemen, and their attacks on relief workers affiliated with the UN and other aid agencies.
KSRelief chief highlights Saudi aid efforts
KSRelief chief highlights Saudi aid efforts
Ithra will bring Spain to life for 2-week cultural celebration
- Ithra Cultural Days will unfold across the plaza, museum, theater, lush garden, library, idea lab, cinema, children’s museum, energy exhibit and Ithra tower
DHAHRAN: Visitors to the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) can enjoy a taste of Spanish culture from Jan. 12-31.
Under the banner “Live Spain,” spaces at Ithra will be transformed to give a glimpse of life in this vibrant European country.
Ithra Cultural Days will unfold across the plaza, museum, theater, lush garden, library, idea lab, cinema, children’s museum, energy exhibit and Ithra tower, with exhibitions dedicated to Spanish photography, fashion and sports. There will also be Spanish cuisine and interactive installations exploring historical and linguistic connections between Arab and Spanish traditions.
There will be live performances across various stages, with a production of “Carmen” among the highlights.
“Cultural exchange is a core part of Ithra’s approach to programming. Celebrating Spain’s culture and history reflects this focus, particularly as this year’s Cultural Days take on a distinctive character by exploring Spain’s cultural heritage,” Noura Alzamil, program manager at Ithra, said.
“Visitors to Ithra will experience an exciting program in every sense, given the scale and variety of events designed to appeal to all tastes and interests.”
Cinema showings will feature Spanish short and feature films, accompanied by post-screening discussions to provide additional cultural context, while talks and sessions in the idea lab and library will explore architecture, literature and creative practice.
Hands-on workshops will invite visitors to engage directly with Spanish crafts and creative traditions, from visual arts and design to food-related practices.
A dedicated program for children and youth will run alongside with storytelling, creative workshops and performances among the attractions. Food and market experiences in Ithra’s public spaces will reflect the important social role played in the country by food.
Ithra Cultural Days present international cultures through immersive, public-facing experiences. This year’s focus on Spain follows the success of last year’s Japan edition, which welcomed more than 200,000 visitors in just two weeks.
