ROME: The UN’s International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) have joined forces to deliver sustainable access to nutritious food in the world’s most impoverished countries amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, adviser at the Saudi Royal Court and supervisor general at KSrelief, and Gilbert F. Houngbo, president of IFAD, signed a joint cooperation agreement at the UN agency’s headquarters in Rome in order to respond with concrete action to escalating hunger and malnutrition around the world that has resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Both organizations share a mission to alleviate poverty and hunger. As part of the agreement, they will draw on their respective expertise and reach, and share knowledge to jointly address malnutrition and hunger. This includes collaborating on the strategy, design and implementation of projects in impoverished countries, including Somalia, Syria and Yemen.
“This agreement is a further step to expand the partnership between Saudi Arabia, represented by KSrelief, and IFAD, which aims to help many people in need and expand the humanitarian scope of Saudi Arabia globally,” said Al-Rabeeah.
“KSrelief is a leading humanitarian organization that has managed to build a wide network of partnerships aiming to alleviate the suffering of those in need. We look forward to building a solid partnership with IFAD, aiming to widen our scope of work.”
Houngbo said: “COVID-19 has amplified the hardships faced by the world’s most vulnerable people, many of whom are now experiencing an increase in hunger and poverty. It is vital for like-minded organizations to join forces to combat this.
“I welcome this opportunity to collaborate with KSrelief to ensure that people living in the most dire situations can sustainably grow, market and consume enough nutritious food.”
An international financial institution and UN agency, IFAD has provided more than $23 billion in grants and low interest loans to help vulnerable countries reduce poverty, hunger and malnutrition and increase rural peoples’ resilience to shocks.
In 2019, IFAD opened a liaison office with Gulf Cooperation Council countries in Riyadh in order to strengthen partnerships within the region.
KSrelief was founded in 2015 by King Salman to be the humanitarian arm of Saudi Arabia.
To date, it has spent $5.26 billion, supporting more than 1,600 projects in 68 countries, with a focus on women and children, food security and nutrition, health, education, shelter, water, sanitation, and humanitarian and emergency relief coordination.
Following the signing of the new partnership, senior IFAD officials told Arab News that Saudi Arabia has played “a major role” in the organization since 1977. “It has been a key supporter of the fund for the past 40 years,” one official said.
Arab Gulf countries financed about 20 percent of IFAD’s initial funding and the first and second replenishments and, as a result, have a strong voice in IFAD’s governance. The fund’s first three presidents were Arab nationals.
“Saudi Arabia’s support for IFAD is critical to combating poverty and strengthening development in developing countries,” the official added.
KSrelief, UN agency join forces in nutrition drive across developing world
https://arab.news/2fsht
KSrelief, UN agency join forces in nutrition drive across developing world
- The organizations will draw on their respective expertise and share knowledge to address malnutrition and hunger
- Al-Rabeeah: “This agreement is a further step to expand the partnership between Saudi Arabia, represented by KSrelief, and IFAD”
Saudi traveler drives in search of the aurora
- ‘It felt like a dream,’ says 27-year-old Malik Al-Sultan after seeing the famed Northern Lights
JEDDAH: A Saudi adventurer has driven thousands of kilometers across continents in pursuit of one of the planet’s rarest natural spectacles.
Malik Al-Sultan set out from Riyadh in a modified Toyota Hilux, crossing Europe by road to reach northern Norway, where he witnessed the Northern Lights.
Auroras, or Northern Lights, are colorful and often delicate displays that occur when charged solar particles collide with Earth’s magnetic field and upper atmosphere. In the northern hemisphere, these shifting curtains of light are visible only during certain seasons.
“I love trying new experiences, seeking adventure, and facing challenges,” Al-Sultan told Arab News.
The idea of traveling long distances by car began in 2017 while Al-Sultan was in Switzerland with his family. “I saw a car there with a plate from one of the Gulf countries, and from that moment I was inspired,” he said.
Once his plans were complete, the destination was clear. “When everything was ready, I chose Norway.”
Al-Sultan, 27, is a university graduate and an employee who prefers simple travel. “I try to share my experience without exaggeration or change,” he said. “My goal is to visit as many countries as I can and share what I learn, what people need, and how much it costs.”
His journey took nearly three weeks of driving, with extended stops to explore several countries.
The route passed through Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Turkiye, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, France, the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and finally Norway.
Along the way, Al-Sultan relied on ferry crossings between France and the UK and between Denmark and Norway, as well as for some travel within Norway.
Driving alone for long distances was challenging. “It was a bit tiring, but I took breaks to rest,” he said. Friends joined him on some stages during the trip.
Al-Sultan made only essential modifications to his 2020 Toyota Hilux 4x4. “I changed the tires and some consumable parts,” he said. For winter conditions in Norway, he used special snow tires with metal studs.
He said the vehicle was tested in difficult conditions — “especially in remote areas, high elevations, changing weather, and long distances.” Among the main challenges were “long distances and difficulty finding accommodation late at night.”
The Northern Lights are best seen in the night sky and far away from city lights. The aurora season usually begins in late September and lasts until late March. Even during this period, witnessing the phenomenon requires luck, and many aurora hunters return home disappointed.
Al-Sultan reached northern Norway near the city of Bodo, where he saw the Northern Lights earlier this month, close to the Rana area.
“It felt like a dream,” he said. “At first, I thought it was clouds or factory smoke reflecting light.”
The lights appeared in green and red, and remained visible for more than half an hour.
Reflecting on the experience, Al-Sultan said the journey taught him patience and self-reliance. “It showed me the value of endurance, trusting my own judgment, and making decisions independently,” he said. “I also discovered how to embrace and even enjoy challenges.”
During the trip, he was warmly hosted by families in different countries. People “were genuinely excited about my journey, and their enthusiasm grew even more when they learned I’m from Saudi Arabia,” he said. “They were also curious about the purpose of my journey and where I was headed.”
Despite the freezing temperatures during the trip, Al-Sultan chose to wear traditional Saudi attire.
“The thobe and shemagh are part of my identity, and I’m proud of them,” he said. “I feel most comfortable wearing them, so it was the natural choice.”
Al-Sultan added that this helped showcase “the true image of the Saudi citizen,” and he hoped he had represented his country positively.
His journey is far from over. “My next goal,” he said, “is to reach Iceland.”
