(MENAFN- Saudi Press Agency)
Cairo, November 11, 2021, SPA -- King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) in Cairo yesterday participated virtually in Regional Consultations on the Global Compact on Refugees for the Arab Region, which was organized by the Arab League in cooperation with United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Director of Urgent Relief Department at KSrelief Fahd bin Ayed Al-Osseimi represented the center in the presence of representatives of international humanitarian institutions, academic institutions and stakeholders.
Al-Osseimi said that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia offers various humanitarian assistance to the needy in the brotherly and friendly countries that suffer from crises and humanitarian catastrophes, out of its belief and vision of being an effective member in the international community, where its relief, humanitarian and development aid covered many developing countries, where its charitable efforts are still ongoing with humanitarian assistance.
He also referred to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's top pillars in supporting refugees, such as assisting the needy in the world and helping achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in developing countries, offering assistance neutrally away from any non-humanitarian or non-developmental motives, applying all followed international standards in relief, humanitarian and development programs, thanks to the high levels of professionalism and efficiency of workers in the humanitarian, development and relief sector, and guaranteeing the delivery of assistance to its beneficiaries and not to be used for other purposes.
He added that total Saudi assistance offered to refugees and displaced people around the world over the past two decades exceeded USD 17 billion, of which USD 1 billion was allocated to the UN and international organizations, while the total number of projects dedicated to refugees outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia between 1992 and 2021 reached 305 schemes with a total value of USD 963,233,000 that benefited 10 countries, including Syria, Palestine, Yemen, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Afghanistan, covering the sectors of food and agricultural security, shelter, health, early recovery, education, water, environmental sanitation, security and protection, among others.
He also pointed out that the total support offered to UNRWA since its establishment exceeded USD 1 billion, while the Saudi support to UNHCR exceeded USD 300 million, referring to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's support and participation in many conferences on supporting refugees and displaced people.
The director also noted that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has also contributed to supporting countries hosting refugees around the world and offering development support to the infrastructure sectors in host countries to help alleviate the host burdens, pointing out that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the third biggest country in the world in terms of hosting migrants, where the number totaled 13 million migrants in 2020, which equals 37% of the total population.
He also spoke about visitors (refugees) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, whose total number stands at 1,095,000 people from the Yemeni, Syrian and Rohingya, who were given residency inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia until the improvement of conditions in their respective countries or they travel to other countries, noting that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia allows them to receive health and educational services for free and is keen for their integration in the society throughout their stay in all regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia without putting them in refugee camps and allow them job opportunities.
--SPA
17:58 LOCAL TIME 14:58 GMT
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