JEDDAH, 5 February 2006 — Special Ambassador for World Food Program (WFP) in the Kingdom Abdul Aziz Muhammad Arrukban said yesterday that Saudi Arabia plays a leading role in humanitarian and relief activities across the world. “It deserves the title of Humanitarian Kingdom,” he told Arab News.
“We have been making tremendous contributions to humanitarian and relief efforts all over the world, especially in African and Asian continents, the worst-hit by poverty and hunger.”
“Ever since its inception, Saudi Arabia has never forgotten charitable work. The Kingdom has been playing a big role in alleviating the suffering of people hit by natural disasters, civil wars and other crises,” Arrukban said.
Saudi Arabia topped the list of WFP donors for the relief of the Palestinian people in 2004-05, he said, noting the Kingdom’s quick response to humanitarian issues.
“The assistance was the first-ever donation — of more than SR23 million — to the Palestinian people through WFP and we are particularly grateful and sincerely thank the Saudi Committee for the Relief of Palestinian People for making it happen,” he added.
The Saudi Ministry of Agriculture also provides 4,000 tons of dates to the WFP every year, and this year the entire donation went to the earthquake victims in Pakistan, he pointed out.
He emphasized the need for taking care of some 300 million children facing chronic malnutrition and living under poverty in order to end world poverty.
“By doing so we can stop the continuation of poverty and hunger from one generation to the other,” he added. “In addition there are about 15 million pregnant and breast-feeding women living under poverty. Both these poor children and women require a total $5 billion in assistance,” he added.
Arrukban was upbeat about voluntary service, which is essential to promote relief work all over the world.
“We have to encourage volunteers to participate in social service by holding national campaigns,” he added.
He had visited the tsunami-affected areas in Indonesia and Sri Lanka to promote Saudi relief assistance through international agencies.
“The scenes in the tsunami-hit areas were horrific. An elderly man in an Indonesian village told me that he had lost 35 members of his family in the tragedy,” he said.
Arrukban said Saudi Arabia has been providing humanitarian assistance to people in other countries without publicity.
“We don’t make any propaganda as we seek only the pleasure of God by carrying out such deeds,” he said.
“This has once again proved that Saudi Arabia sets aside a substantial part of its wealth for humanitarian services,” he said.
Speaking about his relief work in different countries, Arrukban said Sudan required $302 million to feed its people in crisis and recovering from internal conflict.
“There is a need for 260,000 tons of food, especially for people inflicted by wars and drought,” he pointed out.
He warned of the worsening food crisis in Niger as a result of drought.
More than a million people in this African country are facing serious problems.
“Of course, WEF has been extending relief to the people of Niger, but is facing a shortage of $13 million in funds. This is really obstructing relief work in Niger,” he said.
The program has provided food for nearly 2.5 million people from January to September last year. “WFP intends to support 1.2 million people in the coming months,” he told Arab News.
He also spoke about WFP’s activities in Cambodia where recently the Kingdom has provided assistance in education, training and health care.
“WFP interventions are directed to the poorest and most food-insecure rural communities of the country and when a call came from Cambodia for assistance, the Kingdom donated generously and reached out to the people in need as it always does,” he added.
Arrukban said officials of relief organizations around the world hold the Kingdom in high esteem.
“They believe that Saudi Arabia can meet the needs of the poor and victims of natural calamities,” he said.
He said he would work hard to strengthen cooperation between Riyadh and WFP. “I am proud of becoming the first Saudi special ambassador of World Food Program,” he said.
Arrukban was appointed special WFP ambassador after the Foreign Ministry sanctioned opening of the organization’s office in the Kingdom for the first time. He is the first Arab to hold the title in the world’s largest humanitarian body.
Arrukban received this honor in recognition of his untiring efforts in the field, especially in distributing the Kingdom’s humanitarian aid among victims of natural calamities.
He has been successful in promoting the rights and requirements of the poor, hungry, refugees and the displaced.
“Some 850 million people go to bed hungry every day, 24,000 die every single day from hunger or diseases complicated by hunger, 18,000 of them are children and women.
“The Kingdom is becoming a leading country in the global effort to end hunger, which is only natural given its history and culture of generosity and giving,” he said.
