KSRelief signs $10m deals with WHO, UNICEF to combat diseases in Pakistan, other nations

KSrelief Supervisor-General, WHO Director General, and UNICEF Executive Director at the signing of the agreements. (SPA)
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Updated 19 October 2022
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KSRelief signs $10m deals with WHO, UNICEF to combat diseases in Pakistan, other nations

  • First deal, signed with WHO, aims to prevent the spread of measles and polio in Somalia, Sudan and Iraq
  • Second deal, with UNICEF, looks to combat diseases in Congo, Central Africa, Guinea, Afghanistan, Pakistan

RIYADH: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has signed agreements with the World Health Organization and UNICEF to combat the spread of measles and polio in several countries, the Saudi Press Agency has reported.

KSRelief Supervisor-General Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell were signatories to the $10 million agreements which were signed on the sidelines of the World Health Summit in Berlin.

The first deal, signed with WHO, aims to prevent the spread of measles and polio in Somalia, Sudan and Iraq, while the second agreement, with UNICEF, looks to combat the diseases in Congo, Central Africa, Guinea, Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The agreements also seek to support cooling chains to store vaccinations through the use of electric generators or solar panels, cover operational costs for campaigns, and aid the program by hiring experts from WHO and UNICEF.

Al-Rabeeah said Saudi Arabia has a pivotal role to play in relief and humanitarian fields, and that the Kingdom has always lent its support to countries seeking help out of its belief in the importance of such supportive work.

He noted that the two agreements formed part of international efforts to prevent and limit the outbreak of disease for millions of children, and commended the strategic partnership between Saudi Arabia, WHO and UNICEF.


Ramadan volunteering initiatives encourage participation of community

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Ramadan volunteering initiatives encourage participation of community

  • Opportunities include assisting pilgrims by guiding visitors; organizational support such as site management, crowd control, and event assistance
  • Ministry of Islamic Affairs’ branch in Makkah has provided several volunteering opportunities to prepare the city’s mosques for Ramadan

MAKKAH: The General Directorate of Education in the Makkah region is providing more than 200 volunteering opportunities across 13 fields to promote volunteerism during Ramadan, support pilgrim services, and foster values of giving and social responsibility.

The initiative enables volunteers to contribute to community service during the holy month, highlighting education’s role in promoting national and humanitarian values, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Tuesday.

Opportunities include assisting pilgrims by guiding visitors; organizational support such as site management, crowd control, and event assistance; social initiatives through humanitarian projects and community service; and general volunteering work supporting various programs.

Other roles involve translation services for visitors; assisting people with disabilities; cultural programs; technical support and digital documentation; and environmental initiatives promoting sustainability.

Volunteers can also participate in training for capacity building, take on security and safety roles, and engage in health-related activities to raise preventive awareness.

Additionally, volunteers may support government agencies, strengthening field operations and coordination in serving pilgrims and the wider community.

The initiative reflects the commitment of Makkah’s education sector to promoting volunteerism and mobilizing community resources, in line with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

The Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque has launched several Ramadan volunteering opportunities in Madinah to enhance community participation, develop volunteer work, and promote its culture in society.

Opportunities include assisting with religious guidance; organizing worshippers’ rows; monitoring screens and electronic devices; and providing translation and field awareness services for visitors to the Prophet’s Mosque.

Interested participants can register through the National Volunteer Portal by selecting the “religious” field and searching for the Presidency of Religious Affairs of the Prophet’s Mosque to view available opportunities, the SPA added.

Umm Al-Qura University in Makkah has also announced 21 volunteering opportunities during Ramadan to promote volunteerism, empower community participation, and support services for pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque.

Opportunities are in various fields, including simultaneous interpretation, first aid, meal distribution for fasting observers, medical services, guidance and counseling, and welcoming pilgrims.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs’ branch in Makkah has provided several volunteering opportunities to prepare the city’s mosques for Ramadan.

The ministry has reported some 60 openings, engaging 405 male and female volunteers. Activities include organizational and service tasks to ready mosques for worshippers during the holy month.

These efforts reflect the ministry’s commitment to promoting volunteerism and fostering community participation in serving mosques, ensuring a suitable environment for worship and performing rituals with ease and tranquility.