KSrelief Chief Highlights Saudi Arabia’s Humanitarian Leadership at European Forum in Brussels
Brussels, The Gulf Observer: The Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, lauded the international community’s recognition of Saudi Arabia’s key role in alleviating humanitarian crises, particularly its efforts to lift sanctions on Syria—measures that have significantly improved humanitarian access and elicited a positive response from the United States.
Dr. Al-Rabeeah made these remarks on Wednesday during his participation in the European Humanitarian Forum 2025, held in Brussels. He was speaking at a seminar titled “Crises in the Middle East: The Challenge of Protecting Lives and Respecting International Humanitarian Law.”
In his address, Dr. Al-Rabeeah expressed deep appreciation for the European Commission’s focus on global humanitarian challenges, especially those affecting the Middle East—a region he described as burdened by prolonged conflicts and severe humanitarian consequences.
Quoting data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), he noted that more than 65 million people in the region are currently in need of humanitarian assistance, with global response plans only 30 percent funded. He also underlined that the region is experiencing one of the world’s worst displacement crises, with over 28 million people forcibly displaced due to conflict and instability.
Dr. Al-Rabeeah drew attention to countries such as Yemen, Syria, Sudan, Lebanon, and Palestine, describing them as epicenters of worsening humanitarian emergencies. “These crises are robbing children of their futures and leading to the premature deaths of thousands,” he warned.
He highlighted critical needs in the areas of food security, healthcare, water and sanitation, shelter, and education. In addition, he discussed the growing challenges facing humanitarian operations, including misinformation in needs assessments, threats to humanitarian workers, and the looting or destruction of relief supplies.
Reaffirming Saudi Arabia’s steadfast commitment to humanitarian values, Dr. Al-Rabeeah emphasized that KSrelief operates under the principle of impartiality. “Our mission is to extend help without discrimination, and to continue playing a leading role in promoting humanitarian action globally,” he stated.
The remarks further underscore Saudi Arabia’s evolving diplomatic role in regional stability and its ambition to be a global leader in humanitarian outreach.
