3rd Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum Kicks Off

Dignitaries are seen at the Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum (RIHF3). (SPA)
Dignitaries are seen at the Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum (RIHF3). (SPA)
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3rd Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum Kicks Off

Dignitaries are seen at the Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum (RIHF3). (SPA)
Dignitaries are seen at the Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum (RIHF3). (SPA)

Governor of Riyadh Region Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Abdulaziz attended on Monday the inauguration of the Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum (RIHF3).

The event is being held under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. It is organized by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) in partnership with the United Nations and its humanitarian organizations in Riyadh.

During an opening address, Advisor at the Royal Court and KSrelief General Supervisor, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah welcomed the participants to Riyadh.

He underlined the support from King Salman and the follow-up of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince, and Prime Minister.

Dr. Al Rabeeah said: "We are meeting today as the world is witnessing many disasters, crises, conflicts, and events that have exacerbated the humanitarian situation and multiplied its challenges.”

The latest of these tragedies is the earthquake that struck Türkiye and Syria, claiming the lives of tens of thousands of people and leaving millions homeless.

He stressed that today's meeting calls for more concerted efforts and expansion of donors, states, bodies, and individuals, and raising the level of coordination and impact of humanitarian aid so that work will be more effective and responsive.

He noted that the forum has enjoyed great interest and active participation from the UN and international, regional and local organizations, as well as active leaders in humanitarian efforts from 50 countries and nearly 60 organizations.

Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, delivered a speech on behalf of the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres.

He thanked Saudi Arabia, explaining that the humanitarian scene is a harsh one, as the needs are growing all over the world.

He noted that the world is experiencing the largest food crisis in modern history and famine is knocking on many doors. He cited challenges caused by the Ukraine war and catastrophe of the Turkiye and Syria earthquakes.

Griffiths added that more than 350 million people need humanitarian assistance around the world. More than 222 million people do not know when they will eat their next meal or whether they will find something to eat at all, and 45 million people are already on the brink of starvation, most of them women and children. He added that nearly $54 billion was needed to meet the basic needs of the most affected people.

Griffiths called for ending wars and conflicts, stopping the outbreak of new conflicts, and addressing climate change directly because every flood, heat wave, drought, or severe storm leaves in its wake a humanitarian crisis.

Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan said: "Driven from the values of our true Islamic religion, the kings of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, since its founding by King Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud and his sons, up to the era of King Salman, have always been keen to rally all efforts and mobilize the Kingdom’s capabilities to serve humanitarian causes to alleviate the suffering of stricken people and provide relief to the distressed wherever the need arises, without racial or religious discrimination.”

He added that the volume of the aid supplied by the Kingdom over the past seven decades amounts to $95 billion, benefiting 160 countries around the world.

He added that amid geopolitical and economic crises and challenges, the Kingdom continues to advance in its humanitarian contributions, making it at the forefront of donors of development and humanitarian aid to low- and middle-income countries, with an amount exceeding $7 billion.

He recalled that the last humanitarian efforts of the Kingdom were the directives of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed to operate an air bridge, provide various humanitarian aid, and organize a national campaign to mitigate the effects of the earthquake on the Syrian and Turkish peoples.

"These repeated events remind us of our urgent need for humanity without borders, to ensure the preservation of human dignity, and prompt us to redouble efforts to avoid the scourge of war, to cooperate in facing disasters, and to ensure the delivery of aid to those who deserve it in line with international humanitarian law and the principles of humanitarian action,” he stressed.

The Kingdom has worked proactively to reduce the deterioration of the conditions of affected countries and societies and to seek practical and effective solutions through regional and international cooperation, he went on to say.

The Kingdom announced in the past two years a series of initiatives that proved its leadership in climate affairs at the regional and global levels, he remarked. He cited the establishment of a Riyadh-based regional center for the Middle East and North African countries to reduce carbon emissions.

The center was set up in cooperation with the United Nations Economic and Social Council for Western Asia (ESCWA).

Meanwhile, Dr. Al Rabeeah signed approval to allocate sums of money for new and various projects for those affected by the earthquake in Syria and Turkiye, with a value exceeding SAR183 million.

The first project, valued SAR75 million, includes the construction of 3,000 housing units to shelter those affected by the earthquake. The second, with a value of SAR40 million, will sponsor orphans affected by the earthquake,

The third project, with a value of SAR18 million, includes the implementation of a voluntary program for the benefit of the victims (Saudi Volunteer Life). The fourth project, worth more than SAR17.8 million, will provide life-saving health care services.

The fifth project, valued at of more than SAR6,500,000, includes the implementation of life-saving water and sanitation interventions. The sixth project, worth more than SAR6,500,000, calls for providing basic nutrition supplies. The seventh project, with a value of more than SAR19,800,000, includes the urgent medical response to relief the earthquake victims in Syria.



Saudi Foreign Ministry Offers Condolences to Iraq over Victims of Nineveh Fire

 People gather at the site of a fatal fire at a wedding celebration, in the district of Hamdaniyah in Iraq's Nineveh province, Iraq, September 27, 2023. (Reuters)
People gather at the site of a fatal fire at a wedding celebration, in the district of Hamdaniyah in Iraq's Nineveh province, Iraq, September 27, 2023. (Reuters)
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Saudi Foreign Ministry Offers Condolences to Iraq over Victims of Nineveh Fire

 People gather at the site of a fatal fire at a wedding celebration, in the district of Hamdaniyah in Iraq's Nineveh province, Iraq, September 27, 2023. (Reuters)
People gather at the site of a fatal fire at a wedding celebration, in the district of Hamdaniyah in Iraq's Nineveh province, Iraq, September 27, 2023. (Reuters)

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended the Kingdom's condolences and deep sympathy to Iraq and its government, especially the families of the victims, over the fire tragedy at a wedding hall in the northern Nineveh province.

The ministry conveyed the Kingdom's wish for a speedy recovery for the injured.

A raging fire seemingly caused by fireworks set off to celebrate a wedding consumed a hall packed with guests in northern Iraq, killing around 100 people and injuring 150 others as authorities warned Wednesday the death toll could still rise.


Kuwait to Confront Iraqi Court Ruling on Khor Abdullah

Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (KUNA)
Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (KUNA)
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Kuwait to Confront Iraqi Court Ruling on Khor Abdullah

Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (KUNA)
Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (KUNA)

Kuwait's Foreign Minister Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah discussed the Iraqi Federal Supreme Court's ruling over the Khor Abdullah waterway agreement with his British counterpart James Cleverly.

A statement from the Foreign Ministry reported that the call addressed the bilateral relations and the latest developments in the region.

The statement also mentioned that the call discussed the repercussions of the decision of the Federal Supreme Court in Iraq, which ruled that the law ratifying the agreement regulating navigation in the Khor Abdullah waterway was unconstitutional.

The two officials also touched on Iraq's cancellation of the security swap protocol in Khor Abdullah, signed with Kuwait in 2008, the Ministry concluded.

The Iraqi Parliament and the Kuwaiti National Assembly had previously approved the agreement and submitted it to the UN.

However, the Federal Iraqi Court ruled it “unconstitutional”.

Kuwait's Foreign Minister also discussed the issue with the French Ambassador to Kuwait, Claire Le Flecher, and the Russian Ambassador, Vladimir Zheltov, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The Ministry stated that discussion highlighted the implications of the Federal Iraqi Court's decision, the historical fallacies, and Iraq's cancellation of the security swap protocol.

Furthermore, Sheikh Salem addressed the Iraqi court's decision in a meeting with the US Deputy Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, Barbara Leaf, in New York ahead of his meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Blinken reaffirmed the US commitment to preserving Kuwati's security and sovereignty and the safety of its territory and the region.

The meeting also discussed the details of the Federal Iraqi Court's decision regarding the Khor Abdullah Maritime Navigation Agreement.

Furthermore, the annual coordination meeting of the Ministerial Council for Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries discussed the court decision in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

The Ministers stressed the importance of Iraq's commitment to Kuwait's sovereignty and territorial integrity and respect for international conventions and UN resolutions, especially UNSC Resolution 833 regarding the demarcation of the Kuwait-Iraq boundary.

They called for the complete demarcation of the Kuwait-Iraq maritime boundary beyond boundary point 162, urging the Iraqi government to resolve the domestic legal status of the 2012 Kuwait-Iraq Agreement.

They called on Iraq and the UN to exert maximum effort to resolve all the issues.


Saudi Arabia Hopes Revived Efforts Will Help in Establishing Palestinian State

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in NEOM. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in NEOM. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Hopes Revived Efforts Will Help in Establishing Palestinian State

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in NEOM. (SPA)
Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chairs the cabinet meeting in NEOM. (SPA)

The Saudi government hoped on Tuesday that the efforts launched by Saudi Arabia, the Arab League, European Union, with the cooperation of Egypt and Jordan, would achieve peace in the Middle East through the establishment of an independent Palestinian state.

Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, chaired the cabinet meeting that was held in NEOM city.

The Palestinian state must be based on the 1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and according to international resolutions and the 2002 Arab peace initiative, added the cabinet.

The ministers reiterated the Kingdom's commitment, expressed during the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, to support international cooperation in the use of nuclear techniques for the benefit of humanity.

Furthermore, the cabinet underscored the importance of implementing the provisions outlined in the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) to work towards a world free of nuclear weapons, particularly in the Middle East.

At the outset of the meeting, Crown Prince Mohammed expressed gratitude to the leaders of friendly and brotherly nations for their well-wishes to Saudi Arabia on its 93rd National Day that it celebrated on Saturday.

He wished them good health and happiness, while also conveying hopes for continued progress and prosperity for their governments and peoples.

The cabinet was briefed on the outcomes of the Kingdom's participation in the opening of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly and the various meetings held on its sidelines.

The discussions held by the Kingdom during its participation at the General Assembly underscored Saudi Arabia's role and commitment to achieving sustainable development goals and addressing global challenges. Additionally, these discussions emphasized Saudi Arabia's ongoing efforts to address regional crises, enhance security, and promote peace for people worldwide.

The cabinet stressed that the election of Saudi Arabia as President of the Asian Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions (ASOSAI) and its membership in the International Organization for Standardization reflect its international leading roles and initiatives which aim at boosting collective work and taking it to new horizons.

The Cabinet also extended a warm welcome to the addition of Saudi Arabia's Uruq Bani Ma'arid Reserve to the UNESCO World Heritage List, alongside six other Saudi sites that showcase the Kingdom's rich cultural heritage and natural diversity.


Saudi Leaderships Extends Condolences to Bahraini King over Victims of Terror Attack

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz
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Saudi Leaderships Extends Condolences to Bahraini King over Victims of Terror Attack

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, extended their condolences to the King of Bahrain, Hamad bin Issa al-Khalifa, over the victims of a terrorist attack against Bahraini servicemen.

“With great pain and sadness, we received the news about the terrorist attack against Bahraini servicemen which resulted in the martyrdom of several soldiers. We condemn with the strongest terms this criminal act, affirming Saudi Arabia’s support for the Kingdom of Bahrain and extending our deepest condolences to the families of the martyred victims, and to the brethren people of the Kingdom of Bahrain. We wish the injured a speedy recovery,” said the King.

The Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister said in his letter of condolences: “With great sadness, I learned the news about the terrorist attack against the Bahraini Defense Forces which resulted in the martyrdom and injury of several soldiers. I strongly condemn and denounce this criminal act. I send to Your Majesty and to the brotherly people of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and to the families of the martyrs, my deepest condolences and sympathy, asking almighty God to grant the injured a speedy recovery.”

 


Emir of Qatar Receives Saudi Foreign Minister

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani meets with Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (SPA)
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani meets with Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (SPA)
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Emir of Qatar Receives Saudi Foreign Minister

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani meets with Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (SPA)
Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani meets with Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah. (SPA)

Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani met on Tuesday with Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah, who is on an official visit to Qatar.

The meeting, held at the Amiri Diwan, touched on bilateral relations and ways of promoting and enhancing them, as well as on regional and international issues of common concern, reported the Saudi Press Agency.

Prince Faisal conveyed the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to Sheikh Tamim.

Saudi Ambassador to Qatar Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Farhan and Director General of the foreign minister’s office Abdulrahman Al-Daoud attended the meeting.

Prince Faisal later met with his Qatari counterpart and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani.

The meeting at the Amiri Diwan tackled bilateral relations and ways of promoting and bolstering them. They also discussed regional and international issues of common interest.


Abbas Hails Saudi Ambassador’s Visit to Palestine

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas receives the credentials of newly appointed ambassador Nayef al-Sudairi. (Wafa)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas receives the credentials of newly appointed ambassador Nayef al-Sudairi. (Wafa)
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Abbas Hails Saudi Ambassador’s Visit to Palestine

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas receives the credentials of newly appointed ambassador Nayef al-Sudairi. (Wafa)
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas receives the credentials of newly appointed ambassador Nayef al-Sudairi. (Wafa)

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas received in Ramallah on Tuesday newly appointed Saudi nonresident ambassador to Palestine and consul general in Jerusalem Nayef al-Sudairi.

He presented his credentials to Abbas, who hailed his significant appointment.

In a tweet on the X platform, al-Sudairi said he arrived in Palestine with the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister.

Al-Sudairi also met Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Maliki, stressing the importance of the Palestinian cause to Saudi Arabia.

The Palestinian-Israeli conflict must be resolved through the two-state solution and according to international resolutions to ensure the establishment of a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, he added.


MWL Inaugurates Welfare, Development Projects in Mauritania

Secretary-General of the Muslim World League Dr. Mohammed al-Issa inaugurates the medical center in Mauritania. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Secretary-General of the Muslim World League Dr. Mohammed al-Issa inaugurates the medical center in Mauritania. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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MWL Inaugurates Welfare, Development Projects in Mauritania

Secretary-General of the Muslim World League Dr. Mohammed al-Issa inaugurates the medical center in Mauritania. (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Secretary-General of the Muslim World League Dr. Mohammed al-Issa inaugurates the medical center in Mauritania. (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Muslim World League (MWL) Secretary-General and head of the Saudi Muslim Scholars Association Dr. Mohammd al-Issa inaugurated several relief, welfare, and development projects in Nouakchott, Mauritania.

Al-Issa visited the final phase of the Muslim World League's project to build the Grand Mosque in Nouakchott.

He inspected the mosque's facilities, evaluated the quality of the work, and ensured it adhered to the highest architectural and quality standards.

The official was in Nouakchott for an official multi-day visit, where he was received by the Mauritanian Minister of Islamic Affairs, government officials and senior scholars.

Al-Issa inaugurated the advanced medical center affiliated with the MWL during an official ceremony attended by high-ranking government officials and community members.

He toured the center's facilities, reviewed its organizational structure, and observed the ongoing works of the MWL’s health initiatives and medical programs.

He also toured the newly established ophthalmology department and specialty clinics.

He met several orphans, covered by the "Orphan Sponsorship" program in Africa, as they received their annual financial allowances, which provide them with security, comprehensive care and health and education programs. The program serves tens of thousands of orphans across the continent.

Additionally, he handed over house keys to widows, a venture coordinated officially with relevant government entities and in collaboration with several UN-affiliated international organizations.

Al-Issa emphasized that these charitable efforts, coordinated with national government bodies and UN-affiliated international organizations, align with the MWL’s mission.

He noted that the MWL is one of the many benevolent gestures Saudi Arabia offers to the Islamic world within the broader context of humanitarian work.


Saudi Arabia Condemns Houthi Attack on Bahrain Troops 

A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (dpa)
A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (dpa)
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Saudi Arabia Condemns Houthi Attack on Bahrain Troops 

A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (dpa)
A general view of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (dpa)

Saudi Arabia condemned on Tuesday the attack by the Iran-backed Houthi militias against a deployment of Bahraini forces in Saudi Arabia near the border with Yemen.

The attack left two members of the Bahraini army dead and other injured.

In a statement, the Saudi Foreign Ministry offered its “sincere condolences to Bahrain and the relatives of the martyrs.”

It stressed its complete solidarity with Bahrain, reiterating its demand for a halt in weapons supplies to the terrorist Houthi militias.


Bahrain Says Two Soldiers Killed in Houthi Drone Attack

Two members of Bahrain's army were killed and others were injured in a drone attack by the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen on Monday. (Reuters file photo)
Two members of Bahrain's army were killed and others were injured in a drone attack by the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen on Monday. (Reuters file photo)
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Bahrain Says Two Soldiers Killed in Houthi Drone Attack

Two members of Bahrain's army were killed and others were injured in a drone attack by the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen on Monday. (Reuters file photo)
Two members of Bahrain's army were killed and others were injured in a drone attack by the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen on Monday. (Reuters file photo)

Two members of Bahrain's army were killed and others were injured in a drone attack by the Iran-backed Houthi militias in Yemen on Monday during a deployment in Saudi Arabia near the border with the war-torn country, Bahrain's state news agency quoted the country's army as saying.

"This terrorist attack was carried out by Houthi drones on the positions of the Bahraini duty force stationed at the southern border on the territory of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, despite the cessation of military operations between the parties to the war in Yemen," the Bahraini army statement added.

The statement said an officer and a soldier were killed and "a number" from the force were injured.

Brigadier General Turki Al Malki, the Official Spokesman of the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy, condemned the attack and said they "reserve the right for an appropriate response," according to a statement carried by the Saudi state news agency.

He added that the coalition condemned this act of terror carried out by the Houthis in a treacherous hostile act that followed other hostilities during the past month, which included targeting an electric power distribution station and a police station in the border region.

Such acts come in defiance of the positive efforts led to end the crisis and reach a comprehensive political solution, he said.

The US Embassy in Bahrain sent a message of condolence to the families of those killed and said it stood by its long-term ally.

Condolences poured in from across the region.

In a statement, the Yemeni Foreign Ministry stressed its solidarity with Manama following the attack, extending its condolences to Bahrain, its people and the families of the fallen servicemen.

The United Arab Emirates’ Foreign Ministry expressed its condolences and its solidarity with Manama, adding that the attack was a flagrant violation of international laws and norms which requires a deterrent response.

The Ministry also called on the international community to unite efforts and take a decisive stance to stop these operations and return to a political process that leads to peace, security, and stability in Yemen and the region.

The Ministry expressed its deepest condolences and sympathy to government and people of Bahrain, and to the families of the martyrs of this tragedy as well as its wishes for a speedy recovery for all the injured.

Kuwait, Jordan, Morocco and Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jassem Albudaiwi also offered similar messages of condolences.


KSrelief Signs Agreement with UNICEF to Ensure Children's Welfare Worldwide

KSrelief and UNICEF sign an agreement to ensure children welfare around the world. (SPA)
KSrelief and UNICEF sign an agreement to ensure children welfare around the world. (SPA)
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KSrelief Signs Agreement with UNICEF to Ensure Children's Welfare Worldwide

KSrelief and UNICEF sign an agreement to ensure children welfare around the world. (SPA)
KSrelief and UNICEF sign an agreement to ensure children welfare around the world. (SPA)

Advisor at the Saudi Royal Court and Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah signed on Sunday an agreement with UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell to ensure children welfare around the world.

Signed on the sidelines of the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the agreement stipulates that KSrelief and UNICEF will work together to strengthen their strategic partnership.

Al Rabeeah emphasized that the Kingdom is keen to form strategic partnerships, particularly with UNICEF. This agreement, he said, aims to continue the efforts to reach vulnerable and disadvantaged children and their families through UNICEF programs.

Russell said: "UNICEF is grateful for our partnership with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and KSrelief, which has helped us to reach millions of children in need. Through this cooperation framework, our organizations will continue to collaborate in humanitarian action, knowledge sharing, capacity building, innovation and support for the volunteering program.”

The agreement is part of KSrelief's efforts to increase cooperation with regional and international humanitarian organizations in order to improve humanitarian work.