MADINAH: Saudi Arabia is at the forefront of countries that offer humanitarian aid to calamity-hit people across the world, said Secretary General of the International Islamic Relief Organization Adnan Khalil Basha.

“According to a recent report issued by the United Nations, the Kingdom offered 1.9 percent of its national income last year in humanitarian aid and relief assistance to people suffering from calamities and crises across the world,” said Basha while presenting a paper at the First World Conference on Saudi Arabian Efforts to Solve Muslim Issues, which is currently under way in Madinah.

Minister of Higher Education Khaled Al-Anqari opened the conference on Sunday on behalf of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah.

The event has been organized by Madinah Islamic University in collaboration with the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (KAFRA).

In support of the economic development of poor Muslim countries, the Kingdom waived $6 billion lent to 11 countries while 73 countries enjoyed Saudi support in the form of humanitarian aid, education and training, said Basha, adding that this was carried out by various Saudi-based Islamic charities.

“The policy of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah is to offer assistance without any political conditions or hidden agenda,” Basha said.

Secretary-General of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) Saleh Al-Wohaiby noted in his paper that there has been a sharp fall in the Kingdom’s global aid activities over the past nine years following 9/11.

“However, we in the Kingdom intend to take a bold stand and say that while the deeds of our enemies seek to stop our humanitarian projects, our friends demand that we continue our humanitarian and relief activities,” he said.

Fatin Halwani from King Abdulaziz University focused on the efforts of successive Saudi kings to help the Muslim world, while Aminah Al-Fatawi, another participant, wanted to know the role of women in solving issues affecting the Muslim world. One participant demanded the founding of a center for information and studies on the Kingdom’s services to Muslim issues.

Abdullah bin Khamis Al-Solaity, a Bahraini researcher, said Saudi support to the Islamic Development Bank totaled $51 billion until 2007 besides its shouldering of 25 percent of the bank’s initial capital.

“The Kingdom ensured the IDB’s independence in its operations. It offered immunity and customs exemption for the bank’s officials in addition to providing headquarters and support for developmental and humanitarian activities,” the researcher said in his paper.

Abdul Muhaimin Muhammad, another researcher from the Republic of Niger, stressed that people in Africa need assistance in education and training.

More than 100 researchers from 35 countries are participating in the three-day conference.