Since it was founded by King Abdulaziz bin Abdul Rahman Al Saud, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been extending a helping hand to the needy and relieving the suffering of people everywhere, and under Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, the Kingdom continues to be a global pioneer in the field of humanitarian work, a fact widely acknowledged by the UN and other international organizations, as are its relief and humanitarian efforts, which spread the seeds of goodness all over the world.
The Kingdom’s humanitarian and pioneering role in the international community, and awareness of the importance of this influential role in alleviating human suffering and helping people enjoy a decent life, made Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud order the establishment of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) on May 13, 2015, to lead humanitarian work, and to organize and unify Saudi humanitarian and relief work under one umbrella, that of the center.
Under the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the tireless follow-up by HRH the Crown Prince, KSrelief has, over the past eight years, reached 92 countries, implementing 2,473 humanitarian and relief projects worth more than $6 billion targeting vital sectors, including food, education, health, nutrition and water, environmental sanitation and shelter, benefiting millions of the most vulnerable and needy groups in the targeted countries.
The center established close partnerships and strategic relations with regional and international organizations and civil society institutions, reaching 175 partners. The center also has volunteer work among its main objectives, seeking to develop it, educate young people about its importance and motivating them to participate in such work and contribute to achieving the goals of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, the goal being to increase the number of volunteers in the Kingdom to one million.
In this regard, KSrelief launched the “Saudi Portal for External Volunteering”, which aims to qualify and train those volunteering to participate in the center’s work abroad. More than 53,000 volunteers registered on the portal so far. Furthermore, there are efforts to attract volunteers from various agencies and specializations to participate in the center’s more than 410 voluntary programs implemented in various fields in 35 countries.
The center marks the International Humanitarian Day, which is observed every year on August 19, by sharing the world’s gratitude and appreciation for the humanitarian workers who sacrificed their lives to serve people and help the needy and refugees in various parts of the world.
Source: Saudi Press Agency