Saudi Arabia: King Abdullah launches fund-raising drive for people of Syria

Major News in <Asharq alawsat>: King Abdullah launches fund-raising drive for people of Syria

Riyadh, Asharq Al-Awsat – Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, launched the Saudi National Campaign to Support Brothers in Syria with a generous donation of 20 million Saudi Riyals [SR]. Following this, Saudi Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdulaziz donated 10 million SR to the fund.

This fundraising campaign for the people of Syria is being overseen by Saudi Interior Minister Prince Ahmed Bin Abdulaziz. This campaign is set to last for five days, beginning on Monday and lasting till Friday. Saudi citizens and residents from across the Kingdom have rushed to pledge financial and material support and assistance to the Syrian people.

For his part, Dr. Saed al-Oraibi al-Harithy, acting adviser to the Minister of Interior, said that this royal gesture comes in line with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian efforts towards the world’s poorest, who are in dire need of support and assistance.

He stressed that this includes the people of syria who are passing through extremely difficult circumstances and suffering as a result of the bombardment and violence that they are being exposed to at the hands of the Syrian regime, adding that the al-Assad regime’s heavily armed troops are showing no mercy to Syria’s unarmed women, children and elderly population.

The total cash contribution to the Saudi National Campaign to Support Brothers in Syria reached 121,771,811 SR at the end of the first day of donations, in addition to donations of food, medical supplies, clothing, tents and blankets.

For its part, the Arab League’s ministerial committee has agreed to offer $100 million in aid to Syrian refugees.

Saudi Arabia has been providing aid to Syrian refugees in Jordan and Lebanon who have fled the fighting in Syria. Last month, Saudi businessmen sent a convoy of 13 trucks, carrying 312 tons of supplies, to Syrian refugees. This aid was distributed by the Saudi and Jordanian Red Crescent societies.

In addition to this, the Saudi Red Crescent Society is working with the International Islamic Relief Organization Saudi Arabia [IIROSA] to provide housing, medical assistance and food to Syrian refugees in Lebanon.

Secretary-General of the Muslim World League [MWL], Dr. Abdullah Bin Abdulmohsen al-Turki, commended the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz, for his directive to organize the Saudi National Campaign to Support Brothers in Syria. In a press statement, Dr. al-Turki said that the approach of Saudi Arabia since the era of its founder – late King Abdulaziz – has been based on providing relief assistance to Muslims afflicted
by wars and disasters.

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