Fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum Focuses On Global Humanitarian Response Challenges

Governor of Riyadh Region, Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz, represented Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Salman at the Fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum. The event, themed "Navigating the Future of Humanitarian Response," began in Riyadh. Upon arrival, Prince Faisal was welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan and KSrelief's Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, among others.

The forum started with the national anthem and a Quran recitation. Prince Faisal conveyed King Salman's greetings and highlighted the forum's importance in addressing global humanitarian challenges. He emphasized Saudi Arabia's commitment to humanitarian efforts rooted in Islamic values, initiated by King Abdulaziz. The Kingdom has provided over $100 million in aid and established KSrelief a decade ago.

KSrelief has executed more than 3,000 projects across 100 countries, totaling over $7 billion in aid. Dr. Al Rabeeah praised KSrelief's establishment as pivotal for global humanitarian work. He noted that Saudi Arabia's humanitarian contributions exceed $133.8 billion over five decades, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals.

Dr. Al Rabeeah detailed KSrelief's achievements: delivering aid worth over $7.3 billion through 3,355 projects with 466 partners worldwide. He urged global donors to enhance support for rapid and effective humanitarian responses.

Minister of Foreign Affairs highlighted Saudi Arabia's historical dedication to aiding nations in need. The Kingdom has provided over $133 billion in aid to more than 172 countries. Under leadership directives, Saudi Arabia launched numerous aid campaigns, including a fundraising campaign raising over SAR700 million for Palestinian relief.

The Masam project cleared over 430,000 mines in Yemen since 2018, reducing civilian threats significantly. During the Sudanese crisis, Saudi Arabia led diplomatic initiatives resulting in Jeddah agreements and executed a sea evacuation rescuing over 8,400 individuals from 110 countries.

Agreements Signed at the Forum

The Riyadh governor witnessed KSrelief signing four agreements with local, international, and UN organizations to support global humanitarian efforts. Dr. Al Rabeeah signed a $300 million agreement with WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and a $200 million agreement with UNICEF Executive Director for the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.

An agreement was also signed with Islamic Development Bank Group Chairman Dr. Muhammad Al-Jasser for $100 million towards Phase II of the Lives and Livelihoods Fund, the Middle East's largest development initiative. Another agreement was made with World Food Program Executive Director Cindy McCain to distribute 100,000 tons of dates across 30 countries.

Commitment to Humanitarian Law and Aid Delivery

The minister stressed that effective humanitarian diplomacy is crucial amid rising crises for coordinating efforts and strengthening responses while supporting diplomatic solutions by upholding international law and securing aid corridors.

He stated that regional and global events highlight the need for united humanity to respect human dignity and collaborate on aid delivery according to international law. Saudi Arabia remains committed to preventing deterioration in affected regions through practical solutions via regional cooperation.

The forum was attended by princes, ministers, diplomats, leaders from local, Gulf, Arab organizations as well as UN experts.

With inputs from SPA