RIYADH: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman condemned the attack on an Egyptian mosque that killed more than 300 worshippers and said it would galvanize an Islamic military coalition he convened in Riyadh on Sunday.
Top defense officials from some 40 Muslim-majority countries met for a summit aimed at countering “terrorism.”
The alliance was announced two years ago by the crown prince, who also serves as defense minister of the country.
“(The attack) was a very painful occurrence and must make us contemplate in an international and powerful way the role of this terrorism and extremism,” the crown prince said.
Gunmen attacked a mosque on Friday in Egypt’s North Sinai killing more than 300 worshippers, including two dozen children.
Officials have described the coalition as a grouping that would allow member states to request or offer assistance among themselves in fighting groups they designate as terrorists.
Such assistance could include military force, financial aid, material or security expertise, and will have a permanent base in Riyadh.
The coalition will focus not only on a military, security and intelligence track but also efforts to combat terrorist financing and ideology.
“The biggest threat from terrorism and extremism is not only killing innocent people and spreading hate, but tarnishing the reputation of our religion and distorting our belief,” the crown prince said in opening remarks.
Saudi crown prince condemns Egypt attack at Islamic military gathering
Saudi crown prince condemns Egypt attack at Islamic military gathering
KSrelief expands healthcare, food support in Yemen
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSrelief recently inaugurated a kidney dialysis unit at Al-Jada Health Center in Yemen’s Hajjah governorate.
The unit will improve healthcare services, ease the suffering of patients with kidney failure, ensure access to sustainable treatment, and reduce financial burdens on families, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, KSrelief distributed 1,000 food baskets to internally displaced persons in Seiyun district, Hadramout governorate, benefiting 7,000 people under the Emergency Food Interventions Project.
KSrelief also signed a cooperation agreement with a Yemeni civil society organization to support small-scale livestock breeders and promote domestic biogas production in Hidaybu district, Socotra governorate, under the “Seed” initiative.
The initiative aims to boost food security and sustainability in rural communities by supporting agriculture and livestock breeders, the SPA reported.
It will provide 150 families in need with essential agricultural inputs and three cows each, install biogas units, and train beneficiaries in their use and maintenance.
In addition, 75 people will receive training in dairy production and 20 in basic veterinary care and disease prevention. A mobile veterinary unit will be equipped and handed over to the authorities, benefiting 1,050 vulnerable individuals.
These initiatives are part of the Kingdom’s humanitarian efforts through KSrelief to support the health, food, and agriculture sectors and ease the suffering of the Yemeni people.
