Month: July 2024

Reyhanli, The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) on Sunday launched a volunteer medical project for fitting prosthetic limbs and providing physical therapy in the city of Reyhanli in the Republic of Trkiye. The project, running from July 27 to August 4, is implemented by 12 volunteers from various medical specialties as part of the Saudi Life Volunteer Program aimed at assisting victims of earthquakes in Syria and Trkiye. The KSrelief volunteer medical team has provided 235 therapeutic sessions, fitted 12 prosthetic limbs, and applied 28 custom orthotic braces. The assistance is part of the medical volunteer projects offered by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through its humanitarian arm, KSrelief, to assist needy and affected countries and communities around the world. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah confirmed that Saudi Arabia has provided over $130.34 billion in humanitarian and relief aid from 1996 to 2024, benefiting 170 countries globally. He made this statement while participating in a meeting organized by the National Council on US-Arab Relations, where he shared details on the Kingdom's relief and humanitarian efforts and projects worldwide via video call. The Council's CEO, Delano Roosevelt, was also present with his accompanying delegation at the meeting. Dr. Al Rabeeah stated that KSrelief aims to be a leading international center for relief and humanitarian activities, adhering to the highest global standards and best practices related to governance. He emphasized the Center's core values of neutrality, transparency, quality, professionalism, initiative, creativity, building partnerships, and supporting communities. He noted that since i ts establishment in 2015, the Center has implemented around 3,009 projects in 100 countries worldwide, exceeding $6.940 billion, adding that these projects cover various vital sectors and are carried out in partnership with 187 international and UN organizations. Yemen received the largest share of the Center's projects, accounting for 64% of the total aid, with a value exceeding $4.466 billion. Dr. Al Rabeeah highlighted that the center has carried out 992 projects dedicated to women, benefiting more than 151 million women, with a value exceeding $653 million, and 926 projects focused on children, benefiting more than 179 million children, with a value exceeding $888 million. Regarding refugees in the Kingdom, Dr. Al Rabeeah said that Saudi Arabia hosts a large number of refugees, estimated at 1,093,926, including refugees from Yemen, Syria, and Myanmar. The Kingdom provides them with free treatment, education, and opportunities for social integration. He also mentioned the Kingdom's efforts in combating the COVID-19 pandemic internationally, providing more than $824.291 million in medical and preventive aid to over 50 countries globally. Dr. Al Rabeeah said that KSrelief has launched several specialized programs to support the brotherly Yemeni people, including the Saudi program for demining (Masam), which has so far successfully removed over 453,000 mines from Yemeni territories by more than 400 experts in the field of demining. Additionally, there are projects for prosthetic centers and a project for the reintegration of children formerly associated with armed conflict. Dr. Al Rabeeah also provided an explanation about the establishment of the Saudi Aid Platform (SAP), the Platform for Assisting Displaced Persons and Refugees, the National Volunteer Portal, the Electronic Donations Platform (Sahm), and the monitoring and documentation initiatives related to humanitarian work. He also reviewed the Kingdom's humanitarian efforts through the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program for separating Siamese twins, which, he said, has examined 141 cases so far from 26 countries across 3 continents and has successfully performed 61 separation surgeries for conjoined and parasitic twins. Regarding the aid recently provided to some countries, Dr. Al Rabeeah confirmed that the Kingdom has responded from the very first day of the Gaza Strip crisis, with the total aid provided to the Palestinian people reaching $185 million, besides launching a humanitarian airbridge consisting of 54 planes and a maritime bridge of 8 ships. He also said that the Kingdom has airdropped high-quality food for those affected in the Gaza Strip, aiming to break the blockade imposed by Israeli occupation forces on the border crossings. He also added that the Kingdom has provided $120 million to Sudan during its current crisis, and has pledged to donate $400 million to Ukraine to alleviate the suffering of those affected by the humanitarian crisis in that country. Dr. Al Rabeeah also pointed out that the Kingdom has launched the Saudi Sama'a Volunteer Pr ogram for Cochlear Implantation and Hearing Rehabilitation for earthquake victims in the Republic of Trkiye and Syria, which is considered the largest humanitarian voluntary event for cochlear implants and auditory rehabilitation worldwide. The program aims to conduct 120 cochlear implant surgeries and distribute 375 medical hearing aids to children affected by the earthquake in Syria and Turkiye. Throughout all phases of the project, 24 voluntary programs in cochlear implantation will be implemented, benefiting 940 individuals, including intensive rehabilitation programs for the hearing impaired following their surgeries. He also pointed out the designation of November 24 as 'World Conjoined Twins Day' by the United Nations, at the initiative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The purpose is to raise awareness about these humanitarian cases and celebrate achievements in the field of conjoined twins separation surgeries. Additionally, the center will organize an international conference under the patronage of C ustodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in November in Riyadh, to mark the 30th anniversary of the Saudi Conjoined Twins Program. Additionally, the center will hold the fourth edition of the Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum in February 2025. For his part, CEO of the National Council on US-Arab Relations Delano Roosevelt hailed the humanitarian and relief efforts of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, noting that they have reached all corners of the world without discrimination. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Jeddah, The Red Sea International Film Festival is still welcoming submissions for its fourth edition, with a deadline of August 22. The festival extends an invitation to filmmakers from Saudi Arabia, the Arab world, Asia, and Africa to submit their films for the Red Sea: Competition and the Red Sea: Shorts Competition sections, along with the New Saudi/New Cinema section, which aims to showcase the talents and cinematic creativity of Saudi filmmakers. Films participating in the event will vie for the prestigious Yusr Awards, including the Red Sea Golden Yusr Award for Best Film in Competition, which offers a cash prize of $100,000. Other accolades include Best Direction, the Jury Prize, and Best Short Film. The forthcoming edition of the festival is scheduled to run from December 5 to 14 in Al Balad, Jeddah. It will provide diverse opportunities for emerging directors and filmmakers to present their work. Consequently, the festival remains a focal point for film enthusiasts, creators, and industry expert s worldwide, featuring prominent film screenings. Moreover, the festival delves into rediscovering timeless masterpieces and restored works through experimental, audio-visual narratives that defy norms and blend reality with fantasy. For registration in the fourth edition, the festival offers the following link on its website: https://fms.redseafilmfest.com/website/login.php?lang=ar. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Cairo, The Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit cautioned that Israel's reckless actions in the region could have dire consequences. In a statement issued today, Aboul Gheit said Israel is "practising a reckless policy without foreseeing the dire consequences that could affect the region as a result of its actions." He condemned the recent Israeli "assassinations" as breaches of international law, demonstrating a disregard for the regulations that govern state relations. Aboul Gheit urged the international community to step up pressure on Israel in order to avert additional escalation and the possibility of a wider regional conflict. Source: Saudi Press Agency

Riyadh, The Health Sector Transformation Program, part of Saudi Vision 2030, has significantly improved the quality and efficiency of healthcare services across the Kingdom within the past year. Key achievements include launching 20 integrated health clusters nationwide and providing comprehensive care from primary clinics to specialized hospitals, each serving over 2 million residents. The program has also driven the expansion of the electronic pharmaceutical tracking system managed by the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA), which now has 11,057 participating entities, a 13% increase. This enhancement improves the oversight and safety of the drug supply. Widespread adoption of the national digital vaccination registry is another major milestone, with 4,778 facilities registering 123 million vaccinations, including 100% electronic documentation of newborn immunizations. Emergency preparedness has been significantly improved. Cardiac catheterization centers and diabetes centers are now equipped to handle crises, with 80% and 89% readiness, respectively. Additionally, there has been a 96% increase in the availability of primary care appointments. Another significant accomplishment is the substantial expansion of the national unified electronic services platform, Nphies, for Health and Insurance Exchange Services. This platform was initiated by the Council of Cooperative Health Insurance (CCHI), developed by the National Health Information Center (NHIC), and spearheaded by the Sehati Company. Currently, it connects more than 14 million patients to over 2,000 healthcare providers, 480 hospitals, 2,300 clinics, 8,700 pharmacies, and 130 labs. The integrated initiatives of the Health Sector Transformation Program are delivering results and advancing the Kingdom's ambitious Vision 2030 healthcare goals within just one year. Source: Saudi Press Agency