NEW YORK — The Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the United Nations, Ambassador Abdullah Bin Yahya Al-Muallami, said that combating the epidemic of COVID-19 requires a transparent, strong, coordinated, broad-based global response based on science and a spirit of solidarity.

He stressed the Kingdom's commitment to providing a united front against this common threat, and that addressing the epidemic and its interlocking health, social and economic effects is an absolute priority for the Kingdom, as we all face one battle.

The ambassador stated that the whole world faces one enemy that requires close cooperation and effective coordination to get out of this crisis stronger than before, stressing that this was confirmed by the virtual summit of leaders of the G20 countries headed by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman on March 26, 2020.

The Kingdom’s statement came on Thursday during the open meeting of the Security Council (in visual communication) under the item "The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue".

On the Palestinian issue, the ambassador pointed out that the Israeli occupation authorities continue their settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian territory and affirmed the Kingdom's categorical rejection of all false and illegal Israeli policies, practices and plans.

The ambassador reiterated the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's support for the Palestinian cause.

On Saudi Arabia's support for the Yemeni people over the past years, he said that the Kingdom’s government had announced its support for the United Nations plan for humanitarian response in Yemen for the year 2020 with an amount of $500 million, including $25 million to help combat the spread of the corona pandemic in Yemen.

The ambassador highlighted the Kingdom's great efforts to bring peace to Yemen indicating that despite all international efforts for a ceasefire in Yemen, the Houthi militia supported by Iran continues to demonstrate to the international community once again that it is not serious in achieving the desired peace for Yemen and the Yemenis, through its terrorist targeting of cities and civilians in the Kingdom and the continuation of its military attack inside Yemen. — SPA