The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) signed on Monday two cooperation agreements with the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNHCR to offer medical and shelter assistance for Ukrainian refugees in neighboring countries, mainly Poland, reported the Saudi Press Agency.
KSrelief Assistant Supervisor General for Operations and Programs Ahmed bin Ali Al-Beez, WHO Regional Director for Europe Dr. Hans Henri Kluge, and Advisor to the High Commissioner and UNHCR Representative to the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Khlaled Khalifa signed the agreements at the center’s headquarters in Riyadh.
Advisor at the Royal Court and KSrelief Supervisor General Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah oversaw the signing of the agreements that are worth USD10 million.
The first agreement with the WHO stipulates supporting the emergency health response for refugees from Ukraine to neighboring countries with a value of USD5 million through securing and distributing emergency medical supplies.
Assistance includes medical supplies for noncommunicable diseases, such as diabetes, heart diseases and blood vessels, among others, and for preventive diseases through vaccines, such as measles and polio.
It will also distribute medical supplies related to AIDS, pulmonary tuberculosis, and for fighting the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The agreement is expected to benefit a million people.
The second agreement, signed with the UNHCR and worth USD5 million, will support top priority needs for refugees from Ukraine to neighboring countries. It will secure various shelter items for 75,000 refugees from Ukraine to Poland, including providing 100,000 blankets, 75,000 mattresses, 75,000 bed sheets, 75,000 rubber bed sheets and 50,000 sleeping bags.
Dr. Al-Rabeeah said the signing of the agreements is in implementation of the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz to KSrelief to offer emergency medical and shelter assistance to refugees from Ukraine.
He stressed that the assistance reflects Saudi Arabia's leading role in the field of relief and humanitarian work at the global level.
