Saudi Arabia reaffirmed commitment to its leading humanitarian role in delivering programs and support for refugees by giving more than $17 billion within two decades, in addition to hosting more than a million Yemeni, Syrian and Rohingya refugees.
Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah said that Saudi Arabia has provided refugees and displaced people in the world over the past two decades with more than $17 billion, including $925 million for UN and international organizations.
He added that $287.9 million were allocated to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Al Rabeeah’s statements were made at the first Global Refugee Forum held in Geneva, in the presence of heads of state, UN senior officials, development organizations and business leaders.
The Kingdom, emanating from its humanitarian role, has provided programs to support refugees and displaced people, and has been keen to implement badly needed projects in the areas of food security, health, shelter, water, environmental sanitation, nutrition and education, either directly or in partnership with the UNHCR and other international organizations.
Saudi Arabia has also sponsored, in partnership with the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, the Rohingya Pledging Conference held on September 24, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, during which pledging countries committed to provide more than $283 million.
Al Rabeeah added that support for refugees has not been limited to projects implemented in host countries, but that it also included hosting large numbers of Syrian, Yemeni and Rohingya refugees inside the Kingdom.
The number of refugees hosted by the Kingdom has reached one million and 94,000. These refugees were afforded job opportunities and health, educational and other services free of charge.
Al Rabeeah also said that his country has contributed in providing development support to infrastructure sectors in countries hosting refugees.
