UNHCR chief hails KSRelief for its unique humanitarian initiatives

Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH - King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid (KSRelief) concluded a joint cooperation pact with the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) in Riyadh on Wednesday.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, adviser at the Royal Court and general supervisor of KSRelief, and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi signed the agreement, which aims to enhance strategic cooperation and strategic partnership between the two organizations.

Speaking on the occasion, Grandi said that KSRelief was the first organization that visited the Rohingya camps in Bangladesh to assess the Rohingya situation.

“The Center has helped us in many situations. I met with the delegation of the Center recently in Bangladesh and it was the first organization to visit the Rohingya refugee camps to assess the situation and meet their needs. This is just one example,” he said, adding there are also many examples in Yemen, Syria where the organization is working with the Center to help the needy Syrians and refugees in neighboring countries.

“We have had a fruitful dialogue with the general supervisor of KSRelief on the development and expansion of our cooperation to include other areas in the region and the world. I have a very positive vision about the future of the Center, which works wonderfully thanks to the general supervisor and his team,” he said.

Grandi said the signed project strengthens the partnership between the two sides and this makes our cooperation stronger and contributes to the completion of our projects faster.

The overall framework of the project will give key support at the institutional level, he added.

On his part, Dr. Al-Rabeeah said the Kingdom stood with the needy around the world and assisted the victims in 38 countries by offering 232 relief and humanitarian programs under diverse schemes, in addition to hosting 561,911 Yemenis, 262,573 Syrian refugees and more than 300,000 Burmese who have been provided with all facilities and services to enjoy a decent living like the Saudi citizens.

Khaled Al-Khalifa, regional representative of UNHCR for the Gulf, hailed the role of KSRelief in supporting refugee issues, saying that it is one of the largest humanitarian organizations in the world. “The organization has constructive partnerships with all humanitarian and international organizations, especially UNHCR,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister of Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir met Filippo Grandi in Riyadh on Wednesday. During the meeting, they reviewed the latest regional and international developments. They also discussed issues of mutual concern and ways to further boost joint cooperation.