Barham Salih praises the efforts of the King Salman Relief Center and the signing of an agreement to support Syrian families

Barham Salih, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, praised the great humanitarian efforts and pioneering role played by Saudi Arabia through the urgent response of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, and the provision of relief and emergency aid to refugees, noting the fruitful strategic partnership that brings together the two sides.

This came during his meeting with Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabiah, Advisor to the Royal Court and General Supervisor of the Center, on Friday, on the sidelines of the work of the United Nations General Assembly at its 81st session held in New York City.

The two sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation and coordinate humanitarian and relief efforts to support refugees and displaced persons, and ways to alleviate their suffering in various parts of the world, in addition to discussing developments in joint programs and projects.

The General Supervisor of the Center signed a joint executive program with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. To implement a project to shelter Syrian families returning to their country during the coming winter.

Under the program, 987 damaged homes will be rehabilitated to become safe and usable residential spaces, and 10,768 winter bags will be distributed, including highly insulated blankets, plastic sheets (tarpaulins), and winter clothes and jackets. To protect families from extreme cold waves, and benefit 58,625 individuals in need, women with breadwinners, widows, children, and the elderly in the governorates of: Aleppo, Damascus countryside, Deir ez-Zor, Idlib, and Homs.

The agreement came within the framework of Saudi Arabia’s efforts - represented by the Center - to enable Syrian families to voluntarily return to their homes and stabilize them, create a living environment that guarantees them to live in dignity and security, and raise the resilience of the most needy groups.

Later, Dr. Al-Rabiah discussed with Alexander De Croo, Director of the United Nations Development Programme, in a bilateral meeting in New York, matters of common interest related to humanitarian and relief affairs.

De Croo praised the distinguished cooperation relations between the two sides, noting the center’s support for vulnerable groups in the world through a series of humanitarian programs.