Global humanitarian needs are escalating to unprecedented levels, accelerated by crises around the world. We have seen the appalling plight caused by the conflicts in Gaza and Sudan, and countries like Somalia and Ethiopia have been pushed yet again to the brink of famine. The World Bank estimates that by 2030, two-thirds of the world’s extreme poor will live in fragile and conflict-affected states.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom, as two major international aid donors, recognize that these challenges can only be addressed by working together, drawing on our respective strengths and resources.
In March 2023, we launched the inaugural Saudi Arabia-UK Strategic Aid Dialogue on International Development and Humanitarian Assistance in London, bringing together officials and experts from both countries to discuss how we can work together as donors to address the growing needs and identify areas for meaningful partnership. This innovative partnership is world leading.
This week in Riyadh, we will lead discussions between Saudi Arabian and British senior government representatives from across foreign policy, financial, international development and humanitarian sectors for the second Dialogue to further enhance our joint cooperation.
We have three priorities as part of our partnership: delivering aid to those in most urgent need; ensuring that our aid delivery is effective; and ensuring that the international system is fit for purpose.
We are also transforming talk into action.
Firstly, we are delivering aid to those in need. Saudi Arabia and the UK are today committing to significantly increase cooperation to deliver joint humanitarian aid and international development, focused on conflict-affected and fragile states. We will discuss how to scale up delivery of joint aid and where to target our efforts at the Dialogue.
We are already making great strides on this front. Through our partnership, we have already delivered USD $8 million through the World Food Program in Somalia to tackle food insecurity. We are pleased that we are able to extend our partnership in Somalia even further with an additional USD $5 million project to tackle rising malnutrition levels through UNICEF. This is tackling the longer-term impacts of the drought which has affected 1.7 million children under the age of five.
Following the outbreak of conflict in Sudan in April 2023, Saudi Arabia and the UK made a joint commitment to provide USD $9 million to the International Committee of the Red Cross’s urgent humanitarian appeal to deliver life-saving health, protection, and food security support to those affected. These funds are a lifeline for many people on the ground in Sudan. Through this Aid Dialogue, we have also agreed to continue our work together to provide additional aid to Sudan to tackle the rising risk of famine.
The growing humanitarian crisis in Gaza has had a devastating impact on the people on the ground, and the risk of famine is imminent. We are united that calling for full, rapid, safe, and unhindered humanitarian access in all its forms remains an absolute priority. At the Dialogue, Saudi Arabia and the UK will discuss the situation in Gaza and explore ways to coordinate efforts to address the growing humanitarian crisis there.
In Ukraine, both the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Kingdom are providing substantial urgent humanitarian aid for those affected by the ongoing conflict there. We welcome Saudi Arabia’s contribution of USD $410 million as the largest non-Western aid donor to Ukraine.
Finally, our partnership is seeking to ensure that the international aid architecture is fit for purpose and is meeting growing global needs to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. As we look to the UN General Assembly in September 2024, we are committed to working together to reform multilateral institutions and international development banks and strengthen the mechanisms in place in order to unlock billions of dollars for poor and vulnerable countries.
This means working together through the UN, our shared membership of the G20, and other organizations to drive meaningful reform.
Only by working together through effective partnerships can we make a difference and improve the lives of those who are in the most urgent need of our help. Saudi Arabia and the UK are united in our commitment to succeed. In Riyadh this week, we will be taking our partnership to the next level, leading the international efforts to alleviate poverty, end hunger, and build secure, sustainable, and prosperous futures for all.
In 2015, the world came together and agreed the SDGs to deliver a better world by 2030. Last September, the world renewed that collective promise at the SDG Summit at the UN General Assembly. Now, the moment is upon us to deliver that promise for everyone, leaving no one behind, and that goal can only be accomplished in one way: together.
* H.E. Dr Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Saudi Arabia Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) and Adviser to the Royal Court and H.E. Rt Hon Andrew Mitchell MP, UK FCDO Deputy Foreign Secretary and Minister of State (Development and Africa)
