Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, advisor at the Royal Court and supervisor general of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), called on the international community to establish a Global Humanitarian Aviation Council that would bring together the aviation community, humanitarian organizations, and governments to facilitate and protect humanitarian aid transported by air. He said, under the proposal, all programs should be protected under international humanitarian law.

Dr. Al-Rabeeah made the remarks while attending a panel discussion titled “Aviation: A vital lifeline for humanitarian efforts” as part of the Future Aviation Forum 2024 in Riyadh on Tuesday.

The KSrelief chief said that the proposed council would help facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid in three ways. First, by ensuring unrestricted access to airports, air corridors, and refueling facilities for aircraft carrying aid; second, by eliminating all fees and taxes on aircraft transporting aid; and third, by simplifying the delivery of aid, where eliminating fees would reduce costs, and help bridge the humanitarian funding gap.

Dr. Al-Rabeeah pointed out that KSrelief has utilized aviation to deliver vital medical supplies and aid to crisis areas, where the airlifts established by the center have supported Gaza with 50 flights from Riyadh to Al-Arish in Egypt, Sudan with more than 20 flights, and provided essential assistance to earthquake victims in Turkiye and Syria. He also referred to establishing an airlift to Ukraine by sending 21 aircraft loaded with essential aid to border cities in Poland.