KSRelief to Open an Air Bridge within Hours to Aleppo

Saudi aid for earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria arrive successively in Türkiye (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi aid for earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria arrive successively in Türkiye (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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KSRelief to Open an Air Bridge within Hours to Aleppo

Saudi aid for earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria arrive successively in Türkiye (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Saudi aid for earthquake victims in Türkiye and Syria arrive successively in Türkiye (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia is coordinating efforts to operate direct relief flights to Aleppo, to provide medical, shelter, search, and rescue aid to those affected by the devastating earthquake that struck Syria and Türkiye, according to Saudi sources.

The sources told Asharq Al-Awsat that the Kingdom was preparing to send thousands of volunteers, including doctors, health practitioners, and specialists in emergency, search, and rescue, to help those affected by the earthquake.

Director of the Health Aid Department at the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief), Abdullah al-Moallem, confirmed that the Saudi relief bridge would provide aid to those affected in Türkiye and Syria under the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

In an exclusive interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Moallem revealed there were Saudi efforts to conduct direct relief flights to Aleppo in the coming hours after coordinating with the Syrian Red Crescent.

Asked about the arrival of the Saudi medical teams to Syria, the official explained they would arrive soon after opening the crossings.

Moallem recalled that the sixth Saudi plane arrived Saturday at Gaziantep Airport in Türkiye, carrying 98 tons of relief aid, including food, tents, blankets, rugs, shelter bags, and medical supplies.

The medical assistance included machines for X-rays, vital and patient monitoring, anesthesia, respiration, and supplies for surgical operating rooms.

Moallem explained that the rescue and aid teams include the Saudi Red Crescent teams of doctors, health assistants, and paramedics, rescue teams from the Civil Defense, including 93 individuals specialized in search and rescue, and various medical volunteers registered on the KSRelief platform.

He said that the Center has plans to establish field hospitals later but noted that the priority is for search and rescue, depending on the situation and following the Saudi leadership’s directives.

Director of Volunteer Programs at KSRelief, Ali al-Qarni, indicated that more than 4,000 male and female volunteers registered to help those affected by the earthquake in Syria and Türkiye.

Qarni told Asharq Al-Awsat that the first field volunteer teams had already arrived to help in Türkiye and Syria, indicating there were medical, emergency, psychological support, and rescue teams.

The official warned that the first minutes in such disasters were important for rescuing lives, adding that the Center is currently devising plans required after such incidents following the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Qarni called on all volunteers wishing to contribute and help in Syria and Türkiye to register on KSRelief’s volunteering portal, praising the large numbers that came forward and expressed willingness to help.

The campaign launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to donate to the earthquake victims in Syria and Türkiye collected more than SR250 million.



Saudi Govt Discusses Efforts to Bolster Global Economic Growth

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
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Saudi Govt Discusses Efforts to Bolster Global Economic Growth

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in Jeddah on Tuesday. (SPA)

The Saudi government reviewed on Tuesday the Kingdom's ongoing efforts and contributions at the international level to support multilateral action and bolster global economic growth. This includes continued cooperation and coordination with producers within the OPEC+ group to maintain stability in oil markets.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the cabinet meeting that was held in Jeddah on Tuesday.

He briefed the cabinet on the discussions he held with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and the telephone call he received from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The cabinet praised the outcomes of the first meeting of the Saudi-Indonesian Supreme Coordination Council, which reflected the strength of bilateral relations and the mutual keenness to elevate them to broader horizons.

It welcomed the signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between private-sector entities in both countries, covering clean energy, petrochemical industries, and aviation fuel services, contributing to the shared ambition of establishing an advanced economic partnership.

The cabinet welcomed the Kingdom's hosting of the 21st general conference of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), scheduled to be held in Riyadh in November. The conference aims to develop joint solutions to challenges related to sustainable industrialization, innovation, and technological transformation.

Moreover, the cabinet praised the unanimous adoption by the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) of a resolution submitted by Saudi Arabia to protect children in the digital space, stemming from the “Child Protection in Cyberspace” global initiative launched by the Crown Prince.

The move reinforces the initiative's international goals and reflects the Kingdom’s vision through practical steps toward a safe and inclusive digital environment for this age group.

The cabinet highlighted Saudi Arabia's continued ranking in the top position in the IMD World Competitiveness Yearbook’s cybersecurity indicator for 2025, noting that the achievement adds to the series of successes the sector has accomplished in record time across various international levels. It noted the sector’s successes in supporting technological prosperity, localization of priority technologies, and enhancement of international cooperation.

Additionally, Saudi Arabia ranked first globally in the ICT Development Index 2025 issued by the UN International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The achievement confirms the robustness of the Kingdom’s smart digital infrastructure, its attractive investment environment, and the growth of its local digital economy, which has reached SAR495 billion.

The cabinet hailed ongoing successes in combating drug trafficking, including the arrest of criminal networks involved in the trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances in Saudi Arabia. It underscored the continuous security and preventive efforts aimed at protecting the community from this serious issue.