Saudi Arabia provides $30m grant to support Afghan humanitarian fund

Saudi Arabia provides $30m grant to support Afghan humanitarian fund
The grant comes as part of the Kingdom’s mission to alleviate the suffering of the Afghan people. (SPA)
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Updated 09 June 2022

Saudi Arabia provides $30m grant to support Afghan humanitarian fund

Saudi Arabia provides $30m grant to support Afghan humanitarian fund
  • KSrelief’s director of resources and investment said the money would be used toward “urgent” humanitarian work in Afghanistan
  • The Afghan fund was established by the 57-nation OIC and the IsDB in March

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Thursday announced a $30 million grant to support the Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund.
Operated under the umbrella of the Islamic Development Bank in coordination with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the AHTF grant will be provided through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center and the Saudi Fund for Development.
Dr. Samer Al-Jetaily, KSrelief’s director of resources and investment, told Arab News that the money would be used toward “urgent” humanitarian work in Afghanistan.
Officials from the SFD and KSrelief handed over the donation during a signing ceremony held at the center’s headquarters in Riyadh.
The Afghan fund was established by the 57-nation OIC and the IsDB in March.
Al-Jetaily said: “The amount will go directly to the AHTF because there is an urgent need for humanitarian intervention right now in Afghanistan, so it should be an immediate deposit which should reflect in the efforts supporting humanitarian works in Afghanistan.
“There will be a quick action from the OIC so that we can see an impact and results as we know that the situation is deteriorating in Afghanistan. The humanitarian needs overview actually is very critical right now; there is an increase in poverty and people under the poverty line.
“The grant is one of the support efforts provided by Saudi Arabia to Afghanistan, including relief air and land bridges which were implemented to help the Afghan people.
“Afghanistan was also supported over the past decades with a number of projects, including in the humanitarian, health, education, WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), and food security sectors. The total cost of these projects is more than SR1 billion.
“Saudi Arabia’s support means peace and stability in all regions, in all the states, and one of them is Afghanistan. The grant comes as part of the Kingdom’s mission to alleviate the suffering of the Afghan people,” he added.
The fund was established with the aim of reducing the risks of deterioration of the critical humanitarian situation and possible economic collapse in Afghanistan, both of which could affect regional and international peace and stability.
Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, adviser at the Royal Court and general supervisor of KSrelief, was among officials from the involved organizations present at the signing.
Saudi Arabia has provided Afghanistan with aid worth more than $266 million, through donations and relief programs, including projects focused on health, education, and water and food security.


GCC, US ministerial meeting issues joint statement on Ukraine, Syria and more

GCC, US ministerial meeting issues joint statement on Ukraine, Syria and more
Updated 11 sec ago

GCC, US ministerial meeting issues joint statement on Ukraine, Syria and more

GCC, US ministerial meeting issues joint statement on Ukraine, Syria and more
  • Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan said the Kingdom would chair the focus group on African affairs to confront Daesh
  • Secretary Blinken reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to the security of the region

RIYADH: The GCC Council members and the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued a joint statement on achieving political and economic stability in the region after a meeting in Riyadh on Thursday.

The committee highlighted the importance and promise of infrastructure projects to promote regional integration and interconnectivity, contributing to regional stability and prosperity.

Navigational rights and freedoms were also discussed and the security of vessels traveling through the region was highlighted.

The ministers reiterated the importance of confronting terrorism and violent extremism worldwide and welcomed the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS ministerial meeting, held today in Riyadh.

Saudi foreign minister Faisal bin Farhan said the Kingdom would chair the focus group on African affairs to confront Daesh.

Bin Farhan encouraged the establishment of a focus group to combat the organization of ISIS Khorsasan in Afghanistan and limit the spread of the terrorist organization in the area.

Secretary Blinken reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to the security of the region, recognizing the region’s vital role in the global economy and international trade.

The GCC Council and the United States confirmed their commitment to freedom of navigation and maritime security in the region and to counter illegal actions at sea that might threaten shipping lanes, international trade and oil installations in the GCC.

The two sides reaffirmed their support for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and renewed their call for Iran to fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

On Yemen the committee expressed their appreciation for the efforts of Saudi Arabia, Oman, and the UN.

They also expressed their hope to see a Yemeni political process resulting in a lasting end to the conflict.

Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian issue, the committee pointed towards reaching a lasting state of peace in the Middle East in accordance with the two-state solution and the 1967 borders and emphasized Jordan’s role in this situation.

The committee reaffirmed its commitment to reaching a political solution to the Syrian crisis that is in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254 issued in 2015, the ministers welcomed Arab efforts to resolve the crisis.

For Iraq, the ministers discussed the importance of civilian-led efforts, including economic reforms to ensure Iraq’s people benefitted from the country’s natural resources, stabilization to ensure communities can recover from conflict and Daesh violence, measures to prevent the financing of terrorism, and efforts to counter Daesh narratives, which complement ongoing work to enhance the Government of Iraq’s counterterrorism capabilities.

On the war in Ukraine, the ministers reaffirmed the importance of respecting the principle of sovereignty and international law, including the UN Charter and the obligation to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.

Support for refugees and displaced people affected by the war in Ukraine was also emphasized.

Another round of the GCC-US integrated air and missile defense and maritime security working groups was agreed to be held later this year.


Italian pilgrims arrive in Madinah for Hajj

Italian pilgrims arrive in Madinah for Hajj
Updated 9 min 1 sec ago

Italian pilgrims arrive in Madinah for Hajj

Italian pilgrims arrive in Madinah for Hajj
  • After landing, the pilgrims were greeted with a welcome ceremony and gifted flower bouquets, dates and Zamzam water bottles
  • The arrival of the first flights of registered pilgrims was fulfilled through the Nusuk electronic platform

RIYADH: The first group of pilgrims using the Nusuk Hajj platform arrived on Thursday at Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Airport from Italy.
After landing, the pilgrims were greeted with a welcome ceremony and gifted flower bouquets, dates and Zamzam water bottles.
The arrival of the first flights of registered pilgrims was fulfilled through the Nusuk electronic platform, which was launched by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah four months ago to facilitate entry procedures.
Hajj has seen an increase in the number of pilgrims since the pandemic, the lifting of age restrictions, in addition to the ending of guardianship rules for women.
The Nusuk platform, available in seven languages, allows pilgrims from 67 countries to register and book electronically. Service packages consisting of housing, food, flight guidance, and transportation are available for purchase and booking.
The platform has additional services such as interactive maps, a calendar dedicated to offers and activities, a digital guide, and information and health services.
Nusuk is part of the initiatives launched by one of the Saudi Vision 2030 schemes, the Guests of God Service Program. The program aims to enrich religious and cultural experiences in the Kingdom.


FM: We affirm the strength of Saudi-American relations

FM: We affirm the strength of Saudi-American relations
Updated 12 min 2 sec ago

FM: We affirm the strength of Saudi-American relations

FM: We affirm the strength of Saudi-American relations

RIYADH: “We affirm the strength of Saudi-American relations,” Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan said on Thursday.

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Saudi film chiefs to stage industry conference, exhibition in Riyadh

Saudi film chiefs to stage industry conference, exhibition in Riyadh
Updated 08 June 2023

Saudi film chiefs to stage industry conference, exhibition in Riyadh

Saudi film chiefs to stage industry conference, exhibition in Riyadh

RIYADH: The Saudi Film Commission is to stage an industry conference and exhibition in Riyadh later this year.

Officials attending the recent Cannes International Film Festival announced that the first edition of the Saudi Film Confex would run from Oct. 1 to 4.

The event, expected to attract movie-sector professionals from around the world, will include film exhibitions, workshops, and conference sessions, with one of the workshops focussing on self-development and skill enhancement.

Investment and financing solutions, regulatory procedures, infrastructure development, film archiving, and the use of technology will be among conference topics for discussion.

The commission’s chief executive officer, Abdullah Al-Eyaf, told the Saudi Press Agency: “Since the establishment of the Film Commission, we have come a long way in developing the film industry, and we are promised a prosperous future for it, as we continue to attract more production projects to the Kingdom, and we strive to launch the Saudi Film Confex.”


Indian authorities ‘working round the clock’ to facilitate 175,000 Hajj pilgrims

Indian authorities ‘working round the clock’ to facilitate 175,000 Hajj pilgrims
Updated 08 June 2023

Indian authorities ‘working round the clock’ to facilitate 175,000 Hajj pilgrims

Indian authorities ‘working round the clock’ to facilitate 175,000 Hajj pilgrims
  • Special arrangements made for women traveling without mahram
  • Over 25 percent of the Indian Hajj contingent are seniors

NEW DELHI: Indian authorities say they are working “round the clock” to facilitate pilgrims arriving in Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj — New Delhi’s “most extensive logistic operations” outside its homeland.

With over 200 million Indians professing Islam, the Hindu-majority country has the world’s largest Muslim-minority population. Under the 2023 Hajj quota, 175,000 of them are traveling to Saudi Arabia for the spiritual journey that is one of the five pillars of Islam. Special flights for Indian pilgrims started in the last week of May and will end on June 22.

“The Indian Haj Mission works round the clock to deliver the best services for pilgrims,” the Indian Embassy in Riyadh told Arab News on Wednesday, as Ambassador Suhel Ajaz Khan completed a review of the facilities prepared for pilgrims by the country’s consulate in Jeddah and officials in Makkah and Madinah.

“Hajj arrangement is the most extensive logistic operation of the Government of India outside India. The Indian Haj Mission, under (the) Consulate General of India Jeddah, is very crucial for its success.”

What makes the arrangements more complex this year is a new Hajj policy allowing women to apply individually and reach the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah on their own, as Saudi Arabia has lifted a rule that required female pilgrims to be accompanied by a mahram, or male guardian.

India tweaked its Hajj policy accordingly in February, and this year thousands of pilgrims registered in the Ladies Without Mahram category.

“The specialty of this year’s Hajj is female Hajis without mahram. Around 4,000 female pilgrims are using this opportunity,” the embassy said, adding that separate buildings, bus points and attendants have been designated to “facilitate their seamless transportation and accommodation” throughout their stay.

Another set of special arrangements is in place for elder pilgrims as over 25 percent of the Indian contingent are seniors.

Some of them have waited to go since 2019 as, during the coronavirus disease pandemic and afterwards, older pilgrims could not depart due to strict health guidelines.

“This year more than 47,000 pilgrims are of age 60 and above. The Haj Mission has made special arrangements for them with enhanced medical care, wheelchair facilities, and the use of volunteers to help them,” the embassy said.

In Makkah alone the country’s Hajj officials set up three makeshift hospitals that can accommodate 90 patients.

“Both in Madinah and Makkah, pilgrims expressed their satisfaction with the arrangements made,” the embassy said.

“Ambassador Dr. Khan also instructed to the officials to address any grievances and problems faced by the pilgrims immediately.”