RIYADH, 1 January 2005 — A plane load of relief goods from the Kingdom will leave Riyadh for Colombo by a special Saudi Arabian Airlines flight today to help tsunami survivors.
A spokesman for the Finance Ministry told Arab News that this is part of the contribution pledged by the Kingdom. On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia pledged a $10 million aid package to victims of the tsunami disaster in Asia that killed more than 120,000 people and affected millions of others. Under the program, $5 million worth of food, tents and medicines are to be airlifted and distributed via the Saudi Red Crescent to the affected countries — Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India and Thailand. Colombo reported yesterday more than 35,000 deaths while one million survivors reeling under the impact of the monster waves.
“Officials from the ministries of finance, health, information and the Saudi Red crescent will accompany the cargo which is expected to arrive in Colombo today,” the spokesman said, adding that the goods will be handed over to the International Red Cross Society (ICRC) through the Saudi Ambassador in Colombo Mohammed Mahmud Al Ali.
The accompanying team includes Sultan Al-Suhaimie, Hamad Al-Ajmi, Abdullah Al-Harthi, Abdul Rahman Al-Mazrath, Mohammed Al-Qahtani and Khalid Al-Shehri.
In addition to the various relief supplies, the cargo comprises 1,500 tents, 7,000 blankets and 2,000 packets of dry rations which include rice, sugar, oil, milk and infant foods.” This is the maiden consignment to Colombo and many more relief supplies will follow soon,” the spokesman said. Appreciating the gesture of the Saudi government, Sri Lankan Ambassador Ibrahim Sahib Ansar told Arab News that the Kingdom has always supported the island in difficult times.
