RIYADH — The Arab Gulf Program for Development (AGFUND) and UNICEF Monday signed two new project agreements deepening the 40-year-long partnership between the two organizations.

The expanded collaboration comes at a time when COVID-19 continues to affect children at an unprecedented scale and will benefit some of the most marginalized children and communities in Yemen and Niger.

In Yemen, AGFUND’s contribution will allow UNICEF to increase awareness of COVID-19 preventive measures and generate demand for vaccines by training doctors and community volunteers in risk communication and community engagement.

In Niger, the contribution will help UNICEF support the availability and delivery of COVID-19 vaccines through the deployment of mobile teams to reach people in hard-to-reach areas.

The signing ceremony was witnessed by Nathalie Fustier, the UN Resident Coordinator for Saudi Arabia, and Nasser Alkahtani, the executive director of AGFUND.

“No one is safe until everyone is safe, including those in conflict-affected and other hard-to-reach areas,” said Eltayeb Adam, UNICEF Representative to the Gulf Area, at the signing ceremony in Riyadh.

“I am grateful to AGFUND for two the strategic contributions that will allow us to prioritize some of the most vulnerable and underserved communities on the planet.”

“In the fight against COVID-19, we cannot leave anyone behind,” said Prince Abdulaziz Bin Talal, president of AGFUND. “Through our work with UNICEF, we seek to reach vulnerable communities in rural and remote areas. They require information, vaccines and much-needed care and attention.” — SPA