GENEVA — The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi received the CEO of Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) Sultan Bin Abdulrahman Al-Marshad at the UNHCR HQ here, in presence of Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to the UN in Geneva Dr. Abdul Aziz Al-Wasel, in recognition of a long-standing partnership of over 10 years between UNHCR and SFD.

During the meeting, the High Commissioner outlined the most prominent regional and global developments. He also presented the global displacement trends, which have reached unprecedented levels this year.

The meeting also explored opportunities to enhance collaboration between both entities, to ensure sufficient response to growing humanitarian needs, compounded by challenges posed by the COVID19 pandemic.

Additionally, the High Commissioner commended Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian and philanthropic role and “expressed gratitude for the trust and partnership, which has a positive impact on the lives of thousands of displaced families, helping them keep afloat in protracted humanitarian crises.”

In turn, the SFD CEO Al-Marshad expressed efforts made by Saudi Arabia in supporting UNHCR’s mandate, and in ensuring adequate response to individuals impacted by humanitarian crises and their host communities.

Reaffirming the longstanding partnership with UNHCR to help alleviate challenges posed by displacement, Al-Marshad said, “Today, we mark 10 years of strategic partnership between UNHCR and SFD; throughout, we managed to implement more than 17 projects, worth over 78 million US dollars, benefitting over five million persons in seven countries across the world.”

Saudi Arabia has a track record in the field of humanitarian and development support with SFD contributions to UNHCR supporting projects in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Myanmar, Thailand, Bangladesh, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan.