In this Feb. 4, 2014, file photo, Palestinians are seen at the balcony of their new house, part of 750 housing units of a Saudi-funded project led by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). Saudi Arabia is the biggest donor to UN projects.

The Kingdom remains the leading donor of humanitarian aid to the United Nations, a leading official from the multilateral body said Wednesday.

Ibrahim Jawdat El-Ziq, UN resident coordinator in the Kingdom, was speaking as the body prepares to celebrate its 69th anniversary by illuminating the iconic Kingdom Tower with blue color in the capital on Friday.

The event is being held to mark UN Day — the day in 1945 when the organization’s charter was ratified. The UN officially came into being with the ratification of the founding document by the majority of its signatories, including the five permanent members of the Security Council. Saudi Arabia is a founding member.

Events on Friday will include an exhibition, shows on television and the distribution of brochures about the United Nations.

He said Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, remains the leading regional and global donor to the UN in terms of humanitarian aid. “It not only supports UN projects financially but also lends technical assistance to Maghrib and African countries.”

He said Saudi Arabia recently donated SR1.8 billion for UN humanitarian projects in Iraq, SR750 million to refugees in Syria and SR1.8 billion for Gaza reconstruction projects. It has also helped set up projects to eradicate polio from endemic areas, he said.

The Kingdom also provides technical support in the agricultural field including the cultivation of date palm. Several countries are interested in learning from the Kingdom’s management of the Haj. “Millions of pilgrims performing the same rituals simultaneously is a marvel,” he said.

He said the UN’s main aim is to keep peace throughout the world and develop friendly relations among nations. It wants to ensure countries work together to improve the lives of the poor, conquer hunger, disease and illiteracy, and encourage respect for each other’s rights and freedoms. The UN also works to help member states achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Ibrahim Jawdat El-Ziq

 
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