RIYADH: British Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Simon Collis commended the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) for the outstanding humanitarian work it is doing in various parts of the world.
The envoy called on Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, the supervisor general of KSRelief, and discussed programs and relief works being carried out by the center.
The meeting took place at KSRelief’s headquarters in Riyadh and was also attended by Mark Richardson, director of the UK’s Middle East and North Africa at the Department for International Development.
“During the meeting, the ambassador was briefed on KSRelief’s work to help people in need around the world, especially in Yemen,” the center said in a statement to Arab News.
“Some of the center’s projects and programs implemented in cooperation with the UN agencies were also discussed,” it said.
The two sides talked about a range of humanitarian topics of common concern, and ways forward to further strengthen the already close ties between Saudi Arabia and the UK.
“The British ambassador expressed his appreciation for the outstanding work being done by KSRelief and its international partners to alleviate the suffering of all in need,” said KSRelief.
Recently, KSRelief organized a workshop on “Humanitarian Needs Assessment,” in cooperation with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The workshop discussed how to assess and analyze humanitarian needs, strategic planning and prioritize responses.
According to a UN report, the number of Yemenis in need of assistance has risen from 14.7 million in 2013 to 24.1 million in 2019 — a problem that will cost about $4.2 billion to address.
Over two decades, Saudi Arabia has sent $87 billion in humanitarian aid to 81 countries. Al-Rabeeah said since 2014, more than 1,011 humanitarian aid programs worth $3.5 billion have benefitted 44 countries, primarily Yemen, Palestine, Syria, Somalia, Pakistan, Indonesia and Iraq.