JEDDAH, 3 December — Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd has set up a relief committee for Afghan refugees under the chairmanship of Interior Minister Prince Naif. The committee will collect donations and extend emergency assistance to the people of Afghanistan, a government statement said .
“The formation of the committee is in line with the Kingdom’s support for Muslims all over the world and its efforts to alleviate their sufferings and difficulties,” the statement said.
Prince Naif has called upon Saudis and expatriates to donate generously to the Afghan relief fund. The committee has opened a joint account No. 80 at National Commercial Bank and Al-Rajhi bank to receive contributions.
On King Fahd’s directive, Saudi Arabian Television organized a live telethon in October and raised SR135 million for Afghans. King Fahd and Crown Prince Abdullah, deputy premier and commander of the National Guard, donated SR34 million and SR5 million, respectively.
King Fahd had earlier ordered an emergency relief aid worth $10 million for Afghan refugees. The assistance was meant to help 7.5 million Afghans.
Since the issue of the royal order, the Kingdom has sent several planeloads of relief supplies to Peshawar. Today a plane will leave Riyadh carrying 11 tons of dates for Afghans.
Budget session on Dec. 8
The Council of Ministers will hold an extraordinary session at Al-Safa Palace in Makkah on Dec. 8 to endorse the general budget for fiscal 2002, Information Minister Fouad Al-Farsy said yesterday. He said the Cabinet will not hold its regular session today.
