Saudi Gazette report

BEIRUT — The first Saudi planes (air bridge) carrying tons of medicine, shelter kits and food items as part of the humanitarian and relief aid for the blast victims arrived in Beirut on Friday.

The aid was sent through Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center and received by Lebanese Interior Minister Mohammed Fahmi in the presence of Saudi Ambassador to Lebanon Walid Bin Abdullah Bukhari and a specialized team from the KSrelief at Beirut International Airport.

Upon receiving the aid, the Lebanese interior minister extended his sincere appreciation to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman, the Crown Prince and the people of the Kingdom for their support to the blast victims.

In a press statement, the minister pointed out that the Kingdom has been providing economic and financial support to Lebanon for the last 60 years and it has contributed to the reconstruction of Lebanon, which can never be forgotten.

For his part, Ambassador Bukhari said in a statement the KSrelief swung into action immediately after the blast extending its support to through associations and ambulance teams funded by it.

The aid was delivered at the directive from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman in solidarity with the Lebanese people following a massive explosion at the Beirut port, killing more than 150 people and wounding nearly 5,000.

Two planes departed early in the day from King Khalid International Airport carrying more than 120 tons of medicines, devices, solutions, medical and emergency supplies, tents, shelter kits and food items to deliver to affected people in Beirut.

The emergency aid was accompanied by a specialized team from the Center to follow up and supervise the distribution operations.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, an adviser at the Royal Court and supervisor general of KSrelief, stated in a press release that the relief air bridge that was launched Friday is an implementation of directive from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to provide urgent medical and humanitarian assistance through KSrelief to the people of Lebanon.

Dr. Al-Rabeeah stated that the directive of King Salman embodies the established humanitarian values of the Saudi leadership, stressing that this assistance highlights the pivotal role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in providing humanitarian assistance to all people in need around the world with complete impartiality.