He said the amount was spent through a special office that was set up six years ago to look after the affairs of the martyrs’ families. He said the ministry had started distributing 20 food baskets in the name of each martyr among the poor in different parts of the country.
He said the new charitable program was planned on the directives of Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif in appreciation of the slain officers’ bravery and dedication.
“We have already distributed 1,940 baskets of food in the name of 97 martyrs and they were distributed after seeking approval of the families,” he said.
The ministry has spent SR1 million on the food basket project, Al-Muhrej said. “It is a tribute from the ministry to those fighters,” he said.
The office for the martyr’s families was set up in the beginning of the campaign against terrorists, on the instructions of Prince Naif. “There are 14 employees at this office. It gets the support of 120 officers of different grades,” he said.
Al-Muhrej said the office’s mission was not only contacting the families by phone to inquire about their condition but also to meet their medical, educational and other requirements.
“We have been instructed to meet the requirements of these families as quickly as possible,” he said. It includes medical services inside and outside Saudi Arabia when family members receive accommodation and transportation throughout the treatment period at the ministry’s expense.
“The office will also provide consultancy and legal services to these families, if they require such services,” Al-Muhrej said.
The office will also follow up on the education of the martyrs’ children in Saudi Arabia and abroad. “It will ask for reports of schools and universities to review the progress of the children’s studies. The children will be given necessary help to improve their studies in certain subjects.”
The office also helps families to expedite procedures at government departments, recruit maidservants and provides special services to those who want to perform Haj. Every year the office helps members of these families to perform Haj at the ministry’s expense.
