Saudi Arabia To Spearhead Donor Conference Aiding Refugees In Sahel, Lake Chad

Saudi Arabia, through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), will host a donor conference on October 26. This event aims to support displaced people and refugees in Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, and Mali. The conference is organised in collaboration with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and coordinated with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

The conference's primary goal is to gather resources for humanitarian and development projects targeting affected populations. Special emphasis will be placed on UN-coordinated humanitarian response plans. Additionally, it aims to raise awareness about the complex crisis in these regions and establish strong partnerships to enhance effective humanitarian responses while building support for long-term solutions.

Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah, Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of KSrelief, highlighted the importance of this initiative. He stated that this conference is a crucial step towards mobilising necessary resources and forming partnerships to address urgent humanitarian challenges in these regions.

The UN reports that nearly 33 million people across the Sahel and Lake Chad region urgently need humanitarian assistance and protection. This includes 11 million internally displaced individuals who remain as refugees within the region. These countries have faced multiple crises for over a decade, leading to social and economic instability and disrupted livelihoods.

Hissein Brahim Taha, OIC Secretary-General, expressed pride in implementing the Council of Foreign Ministers' decision from OIC Member States. He urged donor member states of the OIC, donor institutions, and international partners to seize this opportunity to provide financial resources to improve conditions for vulnerable communities in these troubled regions.

Impact of Climate Change

The drought in Lake Chad has worsened the humanitarian situation significantly. Lake Chad serves as a vital lifeline for millions of people; thus, its drought necessitates urgent intervention. Conflicts, instability, and violence have forced millions to flee their homes in these areas.

Joyce Msuya, Acting Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, commented: "The Sahel and Lake Chad Basin are facing an unprecedented crisis. This conference represents a critical opportunity for the international community and affected countries to work together to mobilize more resources and support not only for the immediate humanitarian response but also to assist the region emerge from the ongoing crisis and achieve its enormous potential."

Call for International Support

Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, emphasised: "We must strive to help forcibly displaced populations and the communities hosting them," expressing gratitude towards Saudi Arabia and OIC for their efforts in addressing funding shortages in these regions.

The conference seeks not only immediate relief but also aims at long-term stability by addressing root causes such as climate change impacts and food insecurity. Establishing robust partnerships is essential for improving effective humanitarian responses.

This initiative underscores Saudi Arabia's commitment to supporting vulnerable populations through coordinated international efforts. By mobilising resources effectively, it aims to alleviate suffering while promoting sustainable development in crisis-affected areas.

With inputs from SPA