The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), has hosted a donors’ conference in Jeddah, raising over $1.1 billion in pledges to support displaced persons and refugees across the Sahel and Lake Chad regions.
In a statement, the kingdom said the commitment was made possible by the contributions of more than 10 donor countries, agencies and organisations dedicated to addressing the growing humanitarian needs in these crisis-hit areas.
“Held in collaboration with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the conference is to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to the people of Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Burkina Faso and Mali who were plague with various crisis and natural disasters,” the statement said.
In his address during the conference, His Excellency Dr Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of KSrelief, expressed heartfelt appreciation for the generosity shown by the donor community.
He noted that these contributions not only demonstrate solidarity but also empower humanitarian organisations to deliver life-saving support, contributing to greater security and resilience for affected populations.
Dr Al Rabeeah affirmed Saudi Arabia’s ongoing commitment, through KSrelief, to expanding aid efforts in partnership with international stakeholders, ensuring that aid reaches those in urgent need.
The kingdom further strengthened its commitment to the region by pledging an additional USD 30 million, bringing its total contributions for 2024 to USD 51 million.