Saudi Arabia provides $3.4 billion for food security in 88 countries

Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, announced that Saudi Arabia has provided more than $3.4 billion to support food security in 88 countries through the implementation of 1,289 humanitarian projects.

Al-Rabeeah made the announcement while participating in a high-level panel discussion titled "United to End Hunger: Redirecting Global Action to Address Food Crises in Times of Turmoil," organized by the Federal Republic of Germany, the World Food Programme, and the Global Network Against Food Crises, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.

Global priority to address food crises

Al-Rabeeah explained that conflicts are the main driver of acute food insecurity in many countries, stressing the need for preventing food insecurity to be a top global priority, with a focus on systematic prevention and building long-term resilience, rather than just managing short-term crises.

He added that it is important to implement comprehensive measures to ensure aid is delivered safely and efficiently, develop innovative methods to reduce costs and improve efficiency, as well as strengthen humanitarian partnerships, accelerate response times, and enhance supply chains.

Engaging communities and supporting vital sectors

Al-Rabeeah highlighted the importance of direct engagement with affected communities to understand their needs in food security and agriculture, considering local knowledge and expertise as key to ensuring the effectiveness and sustainability of humanitarian interventions. He also emphasized the need to consider local priorities and contexts when designing interventions, including those for workers in the fishing, livestock, and beekeeping sectors.

Targeted projects to combat food insecurity

In conclusion, Al-Rabeeah praised the efforts of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center in combating food insecurity, citing projects such as the "Central Kitchen" and food basket initiatives in Gaza, the "Bithra" initiative to strengthen the resilience of rural communities, and the "Rehabilitation of Damaged Bakeries" project in Syria, which has supported more than 1,400,000 people.