Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah, the advisor at the Royal Court and General Supervisor of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, highlighted the international community’s recognition of Saudi Arabia’s leadership role in addressing humanitarian crises. He emphasized the persistent efforts of the Kingdom’s leadership to lift sanctions on the Syrian Arab Republic, which have created a more conducive environment for a constructive response from the United States. This initiative is expected to significantly improve the delivery of humanitarian aid and enhance the living conditions of the Syrian people.
Dr. Al Rabeeah made these remarks during a discussion titled “Crises in the Middle East: The Challenge of Protecting Lives and Upholding International Humanitarian Law” at the European Humanitarian Forum held in Brussels. The event was attended by His Excellency Haifa bin Abdulrahman Al Jadi, the Saudi Ambassador to the European Union.
In his speech, Dr. Al Rabeeah expressed his gratitude to the European Commission for its focus on global humanitarian issues, especially in the Middle East, where conflicts persist, and displacement rates continue to climb. He noted that over 65 million individuals in the Middle East currently require humanitarian assistance. Furthermore, he pointed out that, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), less than 30% of the emergency response plans have been funded. He emphasized that the region is experiencing a massive displacement crisis, with over 28 million people internally displaced.
He addressed the dire humanitarian challenges facing the Arab world, which ranks among the most urgent crises globally due to ongoing conflicts and instability in countries like Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Lebanon, and Palestine. The violence and lack of access to basic necessities have resulted in premature deaths for thousands, particularly among children. Dr. Al Rabeeah elaborated on the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center’s commitment to addressing these issues, noting that it has implemented over 3,400 humanitarian projects across 107 countries.
Dr. Al Rabeeah underscored that the global humanitarian needs are critical, focusing on areas such as food security, water, environmental sanitation, healthcare, shelter, and education. He identified immediate challenges in regions plagued by high displacement rates, particularly the difficulties of delivering aid to those in dire need. He also raised concerns about the hazards facing humanitarian workers in the field, including arrests, physical threats, and injuries while performing their duties. Additionally, he mentioned issues surrounding the provision of accurate information regarding need assessments, as well as the looting and destruction of relief trucks and warehouses.
He emphasized the importance of addressing the funding gap to prevent further humanitarian disasters and to reduce dependency on foreign aid. To this end, Dr. Al Rabeeah called for a greater number of donors to meet the escalating needs and for the establishment of strategic partnerships aimed at supporting more humanitarian projects. He celebrated Saudi Arabia’s notable success through the “Sahim” electronic platform, which encourages public donations, alongside substantial contributions from the Saudi private sector in addressing international humanitarian calls.
Dr. Al Rabeeah urged stakeholders to continue supporting affected and vulnerable communities, reflecting Saudi Arabia’s commitment to extend aid without discrimination. He reaffirmed the Kingdom’s pivotal role in enhancing global humanitarian endeavors, asserting the necessity of fostering dialogue and cooperation to promote stability and peace around the world.
In conclusion, Dr. Al Rabeeah’s address shed light on the pressing humanitarian crises impacting the Middle East and underscored the importance of collaborative efforts from the international community to alleviate suffering and improve the living conditions of millions in need. His remarks serve as a call to action for increased partnerships, transparency, and resource mobilization to meet the daunting humanitarian challengesawaiting response.
