Saudi aid agency KSrelief boosts medical services in Egypt, Jordan’s Zaatari refugee camp

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A team of volunteers including 14 specialist doctors performed 28 pediatric heart surgeries in Alexandria, Egypt. (SPA)
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A team of volunteers including 14 specialist doctors performed 28 pediatric heart surgeries in Alexandria, Egypt. (SPA)
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Updated 08 October 2024
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Saudi aid agency KSrelief boosts medical services in Egypt, Jordan’s Zaatari refugee camp

  • Various clinics provide pediatric, eye, dental, emergency treatments, and open-heart surgeries for needy people

RIYADH: The Kingdom’s aid agency KSrelief has stepped up its healthcare services to reach more beneficiaries in Egypt and Jordan’s Zaatari refugee camp.

KSrelief’s clinics provided comprehensive medical services to 2,564 Syrian refugees at Jordan’s Zaatari camp during the last week of September, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

During this period, the general medicine clinics treated 680 patients, and the internal medicine clinic saw 79 patients with diabetes, hypertension, and asthma.

The pediatric, emergency, dental and two gynecology clinics attended to 318 children, 314 patients, 109 patients, and 220 females, respectively, at the camp.

Also, the ear, nose, and throat clinic saw 43 patients with various infections. In addition, the eye, cardiology and diagnostic radiology clinics treated 80, 20 and 31 patients.

The health education department served 72 beneficiaries, and 2,340 medical prescriptions were filled at the pharmacy.

A team of volunteers including 14 specialist doctors performed 28 pediatric heart surgeries in Alexandria, Egypt, from Sept. 24 to 30.

The procedures included 23 open-heart surgeries and five cardiac catheterizations, all performed with a 100 percent success rate, said the SPA.

The project was a part of KSrelief’s efforts to provide critical healthcare services to people in need across the world.

“The surgeries were part of a volunteer medical project aimed at providing life-saving heart procedures for children from low-income families,” reported the SPA.


Saudi children’s cultural development continues at King Abdulaziz libraries

Updated 55 min 2 sec ago
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Saudi children’s cultural development continues at King Abdulaziz libraries

  • Focusing on the cultural and intellectual development of Saudi children has been a longstanding strategy of King Abdulaziz Public Library
  • Library aims not only to provide knowledge, but also to prepare children and young adults to become innovative and creative individuals

RIYADH: Saudi children’s cultural enrichment is in good hands as King Abdulaziz Public Library continues its project to nurture the nation’s youth.

Focusing on the cultural and intellectual development of Saudi children has been a longstanding strategy of King Abdulaziz Public Library, a report by Saudi Press Agency recently highlighted.

The library aims not only to provide knowledge, but also to prepare children and young adults to become innovative and creative individuals who can compete on a global level.

Its branches in Riyadh focus on children’s literature as a cornerstone of Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to nurture generations capable of building a bright future.

From its inception, the library has provided a comprehensive educational environment that enhances children’s cultural and intellectual skills. This is achieved through a variety of efforts and initiatives.

The Children’s Library, established in 1989, provides modern educational programs that blend art, science and innovation and are supervised by specialists in children’s culture in line with global standards.

In 2000, the library launched the Children’s Book Club, allowing young readers to subscribe under their own names and select carefully curated books from more than 1,500 titles by various Arab publishers.

This activity widens their perspectives and fosters their sense of independence and belonging, benefiting thousands of children from different regions of the Kingdom.

The club also offers annual and semi-annual subscriptions, providing books suitable for each age stage and offering special support through free subscriptions for children with special needs as well as orphans.

To broaden access to knowledge, the library has developed a digital site specifically for the book club, where children and educators worldwide can explore notable books for each age group and the latest in Arabic publications, making literature more accessible.

The library’s publications for children, produced by the Children’s Publishing Department established in 2003, include more than 200 titles covering topics on values, identity, culture, knowledge, Saudi, Arab and Islamic heritage, and noble traditions.

Many of these works have been translated into more than 10 languages, including Spanish, Chinese, English and French, reflecting Saudi culture to children worldwide and opening a window into the Kingdom’s history and heritage.

To promote inclusivity, the library has transformed many of these publications into animated films, allowing children to learn through modern technology and animated stories that capture their interest and suit their tastes.

In 2005, the library established the Young Adult Library, creating an educational bridge between childhood and adulthood. It aims to develop young people’s skills and help them discover their potential.

It offers innovation and creativity programs that enable them to transform their ideas into real projects, reflecting their independent vision and critical thinking.

In 2016, King Abdulaziz Public Library launched the Learning Resource Buses, which serve as mobile libraries that reach schools, parks, public gardens and neighborhoods, offering children the opportunity to benefit from books and activities.

To reinforce methodological values in childhood studies, the library has strengthened its academic dimension by focusing on the study of children’s culture.

In 2018, it established a specialized library for postgraduate research in childhood to serve researchers and postgraduate students, encompassing everything related to the world of childhood.

The library’s Children’s Sector employs modern technologies that create an interactive environment, encouraging children to showcase their skills and talents. The technologies included enable children to experience interactive educational activities and 3D printers, allowing them to turn ideas into tangible models, learning design and production skills.

The library also strives to develop children’s creative skills through a wide range of skill-building activities, including arts, literature, crafts and other creative endeavors. These are designed to encourage children to explore their cognitive and intellectual abilities in a fun and interactive way.

Furthermore, the library is dedicated to children with disabilities, the visually impaired, amputees, orphans and the children of martyrs, offering them diverse programs, involving them in cultural exhibitions and publishing books in braille for blind readers.

Theater is also an essential part of the educational experience at King Abdulaziz Public Library, with interactive plays and educational films that stimulate children’s imagination and add an entertaining and educational dimension to their experience.


Camel committee formed in Saudi Arabia to boost heritage and economic value

Updated 13 November 2024
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Camel committee formed in Saudi Arabia to boost heritage and economic value

RIYADH: In the "Year of the Camel," the Federation of Saudi Chambers announced the formation of a national committee for camels, the first of its kind, appointing Saad Al-Jalban as president and Abdullah Al-Subaie as vice president.

The move is part of the federation’s efforts to increase the economic value of camels and support relevant authorities, including the Ministry of Culture, in promoting the camel as a cultural symbol and an integral part of Saudi heritage.

The committee will work to significantly increase the market and investment value of camels, estimated to number about two million in the Kingdom and owned by more than 100,000 individuals.

Sales of camels at specific festivals have reached an impressive SR350 million, highlighting their popularity and economic significance.

The committee will serve as a central resource for investors, providing assistance with investment opportunities, health and medical services, pasture management and fodder supply through collaboration with relevant public and private entities.

The Saudi Ministry of Culture designated 2024 as the “Year of the Camel” to highlight and reinforce the status of the animal as a national symbol and cornerstone of Arabian cultural identity.

Camels are regularly celebrated across the country through dedicated festivals, race events, clubs and research centers.

Recently, the Saudi pavilion at UNESCO’s Arab Week event in Paris featured a showcase of the Kingdom’s deep-rooted connection to camel culture.

It also explored the role of the animals as a vital part of the nation’s heritage, identity and civilization, offering a glimpse into their enduring place in society.

The exhibits showed how the role of the camel has evolved from an essential means of transport and provider of resources to a cultural icon that embodies the Kingdom’s values, and how camels are embedded in Saudi customs, traditions and literature, including poetry and proverbs.


Latest Saudi aid plane arrives in Lebanon

Updated 13 November 2024
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Latest Saudi aid plane arrives in Lebanon

RIYADH: Another plane carrying aid for people in Lebanon landed at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport on Wednesday.

The plane, the 23rd from Saudi aid agency KSrelief, was carrying food, shelter and medical supplies, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

Saudi Arabia has been sending planes carrying aid packages to Lebanon since Israel stepped up its bombing campaign in Lebanon, mainly targeting Hezbollah strongholds in south Beirut and in the east and south of the country.


Saudi Joint Forces Commander meets with UN envoy for Yemen

Updated 13 November 2024
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Saudi Joint Forces Commander meets with UN envoy for Yemen

  • During their meeting, both parties underscored the Kingdom’s significant role in facilitating and supporting humanitarian efforts in Yemen

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Commander of the Joint Forces, Lt. Gen. Fahd bin Hamad Al-Salman, met on Tuesday with the UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg.

During their meeting, both parties underscored the Kingdom’s significant role in facilitating and supporting humanitarian efforts, along with its dedication to the development and reconstruction of Yemen, Saudi Press Agency reported.

They discussed Saudi Arabia’s ongoing efforts to enhance humanitarian operations and promote peace and stability in Yemen.

Al-Salman reiterated the Kingdom’s commitment to political initiatives aimed at achieving a comprehensive and just resolution to the Yemeni crisis.


Officials discuss Saudi-South Korean cooperation in nuclear power and defense

Updated 12 November 2024
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Officials discuss Saudi-South Korean cooperation in nuclear power and defense

  • First Korea-Gulf Cooperation Council cooperation seminar hosted around 80 participants to discuss trade relations, cooperation in the energy sector, and regional conflicts
  • Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Choi Byung-hyuk said that the seminar was an opportune space to discuss economic cooperation and to come to a shared understanding of regional conflicts

RIYADH: Officials and nuclear experts discussed cooperation in nuclear energy and defense between South Korea and Saudi Arabia during an event in Riyadh on Tuesday.

The first Korea-Gulf Cooperation Council cooperation seminar hosted around 80 participants to discuss trade relations, cooperation in the energy sector, and regional conflicts in the Middle East.

South Korea’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Choi Byung-hyuk, said the seminar was an opportune space to discuss economic cooperation and to come to a shared understanding of regional conflicts in the GCC, specifically Gaza and the Red Sea, as well as a space to diversify energy cooperation in the nuclear and renewables sectors.

Kang Han-ok, vice president for SMART development at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute, presented a joint research project currently underway between South Korea and Saudi Arabia on small modular reactors.

“SMRs are being highlighted as carbon-zero energy sources that complement the intermittent nature of renewable energy in the global power supply sector,” Kang said.

He noted how the SMART100 SMR, jointly designed by Saudi and South Korean entities, was approved by Seoul’s nuclear regulator in September.

The reactor was jointly developed by KAERI, the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy, and the Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Corp.

Kang explained the reactor is now ready to be exported globally. “With its SDA acquaintance, SMART is now ready for global deployment in the demand of the power and thermal energy sectors,” he said.

Kang also spoke about ways to increase nuclear power plant cooperation between South Korea and GCC member states, citing the plan to establish a joint nuclear research and development center between the Saudi National Atomic Energy Project and KAERI.

The chairman of the Gulf Research Center, Abdulaziz Sager, emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s ability to rely on South Korea as a strong ally and defense supplier encouraged a relationship of trust and long-term partnership in the Kingdom’s security planning.

The seminar comes almost one year after the signing of a free trade agreement between South Korea and the GCC, signed on Dec. 28, 2023.

At the time, South Korea committed to eliminate 89.9 percent of tariffs on all products while the GCC committed to eliminate 76.4 percent, facilitating increased trade between the two parties.

The Korea-GCC FTA was 20 years in the making. Discussions for the agreement began in 2008, but it is yet to be verified or ratified. Lee Kwon-hyung, senior research fellow from the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy, put forward recommendations on how to pave the way for the agreement and how to best utilize it once finalized, including establishing an artificial intelligence data center to transition towards a green energy economy relying on solar, wind, and nuclear power for electricity generation.

“The AI data center needs a lot of electricity, so an energy transition and a digital transition are very imperative, and with the AI Data Center we can make industrial restructuring in both countries,” Lee said.

Prof. In Nam-sik, director general for strategic region studies at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, evaluated the impact of geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East and East Asia on Korean-GCC relations, as well as the transformation of the US-led liberal international order.

On the war on Gaza, In said: “The situation threatens to shift the two-state solution toward an apartheid scenario, further destabilizing the region.”

On Iran, In continued: “Iran’s expanding influence through its regional proxy contributes to ongoing instability, with concerns that the current dynamics may accelerate Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

“The transition in Iran’s leadership raises uncertainties, with hopes for a gradual regime change that might reduce Iran’s revolutionary stance.”

Commenting on US influence, In said: “As the US pivots its strategic focus to Asia, Gulf nations are adopting flexible diplomacy, leveraging both US and Chinese influence.”

In stated that the Middle Eastern and European fronts are already linked, and North Korean military support to Russia signals an increasing risk of interconnected conflicts across regions.

To combat these regional and international threats, In urged South Korea and the GCC to work together on security cooperation across information sharing and technology, joint maritime security exercises, and shared support for multilateral forums, in addition to continued political dialogue in the above mentioned areas.