JEDDAH, 6 April 2003 — The revenues of the Kingdom’s 248 charitable and social organizations between 1985 to 2002 were estimated at SR14 billion ($3.73 billion), and their expenditure at SR10 billion ($2.6 billion), according to Labor and Social Affairs Minister Dr. Ali Al-Namlah.
He also said that the government had given more than SR1.2 billion ($320 million) in assistance to these organizations to carry out various projects.
Al-Namlah said that the ministry was now reviewing applications for establishing new social, medical and charitable organizations, adding that the aid provided by the government covered families of the handicapped, the Center for Research on Disabilities and the Prince Salman Social Center.
“We have also provided assistance to help people get married, and to individual and vocational projects,” he added. “We have conducted a number of studies on children with special needs as well as on the reasons for drug addiction among young men and women and the best way of treating them,” the minister said.
Al-Namlah said the ministry was also studying why the divorce rate is increasing in the country.
Highlighting the significance of Social Work Week in the Makkah region, which will be launched in Jeddah on April 22, he said it was aimed at introducing the ministry’s various social services to the public.
“The week will bring attention to social problems such as divorce and its effects on children,” the minister said.
