Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah) unfolded the story behind a rare photo of a group of European refugees who were given shelter in the Kingdom.

The picture was taken more than 80 years ago, Darah said while explaining that the picture was that of a group of Italian and German sailors and soldiers who took refuge in the Kingdom during World War II.

The refugees resided in two camps specially prepared for them. The first camp was on two islands in the Red Sea, while the other was at a Jeddah hospital.

Darah noted that the representative of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) at that time wrote a letter of thanks to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs after his visit to the two camps, during which he lauded the facilities that had been arranged for the refugees despite the difficult circumstances.