Riyadh,
Since its founding by King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, Saudi Arabia has been at the forefront of humanitarian aid. This commitment has been steadfastly upheld by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister. Recognizing the importance of striving to alleviate human suffering, the Kingdom has established a robust framework for charitable and humanitarian work.
Between 1975 and 2024, Saudi Arabia generously provided approximately $131 billion in development aid to 171 countries, implementing over 7,090 humanitarian, relief, and development projects. This unparalleled commitment has solidified, by the end of 2023, the Kingdom’s position as the fourth-largest donor of humanitarian and relief aid globally, with assistance of $1.2 billion, equivalent to 3.6% of the aid provided by donor countries to developing countries and countries suffering from disasters and crises, according to the United Nations Financial Tracking Service (FTS).
To further enhance this humanitarian endeavor, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) was established in 2015. Since its inception, KSrelief has undertaken over 3,009 projects in 100 countries, delivering aid worth more than $6.94 billion. Millions of impoverished and vulnerable individuals from all over the world have benefited from its initiatives.
To elevate the Kingdom’s status as a premier global donor, platforms such as the Saudi Aid Platform, the Saudi International Volunteer Portal, and the Sahem electronic donation platform have been established.
KSrelief has been at the forefront of humanitarian efforts, particularly in Yemen, Gaza, Syria, and Turkiye.
In Yemen, KSrelief has implemented various programs, including the Saudi Project for Landmine Clearance in Yemen (MASAM), the Artificial Limbs Centers, and the Reintegration Program for Children Associated with Armed Conflict.
Saudi Arabia has welcomed Yemeni refugees, providing them with healthcare, education, and employment opportunities.
To address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, KSrelief launched air and sea bridges, delivering food, shelter, and medical supplies worth $185 million. The center also funded over $300 million worth of cancer treatment for 150 Gazans in Jordan.
In response to the devastating earthquakes in Syria and Turkiye, KSrelief initiated a volunteer program for hearing rehabilitation and cochlear implants, the world’s largest voluntary humanitarian effort of this kind.
Saudi Arabia’s commitment to humanitarian causes is further evidenced by the UN’s adoption of November 24 as World Conjoined Twins Day, an initiative spearheaded by the Kingdom. KSrelief will host an international conference on conjoined twins in Riyadh in November to mark the 30th anniversary of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program.
These initiatives highlight Saudi Arabia’s leading role in global humanitarian aid and disaster relief, which is one of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 goals.
— SPA
