Donations for Syrians roll in

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah yesterday launched the fundraising campaign for the Syrians, by donating SR20 million to the fund. Crown Prince Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, donated SR10 million.
Saudi philanthropists and businessmen in different parts of the Kingdom extended their donations to the fund in cash and kind, in support of the Syrian people facing oppression from Bashar Assad’s regime.
Cash donations, checks, and money transfers will be accepted at all branches of NCB, while donations-in-kind will be received at the campaign’s warehouses.
Saed Al-Harithy, acting adviser to Interior Minister Prince Ahmed, said an experienced committee has been set up to organize the campaign. Donations may be deposited in NCB account No. SA231 00 000 201 88 888 000 100,” he added.
Saudi Arabia has been providing relief aid for Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon. Last month, Saudi businessmen sent a convoy of food supplies for Syrians living in Jordan.
The 13-truck convoy carried 312 tons of supplies including 10,000 food packets and was distributed by members of the Saudi and Jordanian Red Crescent societies to the refugees.
The Saudi Red Crescent in association with the International Islamic Relief Organization Saudi Arabia (IIROSA) is providing housing, medical and food assistance to the Syrian refugees in Lebanon.
Prince Faisal bin Abdullah, president of Saudi Red Crescent Authority, met with his counterparts from Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon to discuss the distribution of supplies among Syrian refugees in their countries.
Saudi officials and the business community welcome the initiative taken by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to launch the fundraising campaign.
“King Abdullah’s gesture is a manifestation of Islamic unity and solidarity,” said Abdul Rahman Al-Jeraisy, president of Riyadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He urged business leaders in the Kingdom to support the campaign.
Adnan Khalil Basha, secretary-general of IIROSA, also commended the king’s humanitarian gesture. “This move is an extension of the humanitarian stand taken by Saudi Arabia since the start of the Syrian crisis,” he said.
OIC summit welcomed
The Arab League meanwhile welcomed King Abdullah’s call for an emergency Islamic summit in Makkah next month.
A league statement said: “This is a valuable opportunity to achieve cohesion and Islamic solidarity in the current extraordinary situation.”
The statement was issued at the end of a two-day emergency session on Syria that concluded in Doha yesterday evening.