Riyadh — Saudi Arabia launched annual dates distribution program in Riyadh on Sunday to distribute 6,500 tons of dates in Ramadan to the needy Muslims in nearly 43 countries.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, the supervisor general of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) said, “Under the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, deputy prime minister and minister of defense, KSrelief is pleased to announce the launching of the Annual Dates Distribution Program with the participation of Foreign, Finance, Environment, Water and Agriculture Ministries of Saudi Arabia together with the Al-Ahsa Date Factory.”
“Dates are one of the Kingdom’s most important agricultural outputs, and the leadership is keen to distribute the nutritionally beneficial produce each year just before the holy month of Ramadan,” he added.
He told that 4,000 tons will be allocated to the World Food Program (WFP) for distribution in 14 countries, and 2,500 tons will be allocated directly to national governments in 29 other countries.
“We affirm Saudi Arabia’s keenness to maintain its pioneering humanitarian role in the world and its commitment to following humanitarian principles of impartiality to help alleviate the suffering of those of need in various countries around the world,” Al-Rabeeah said.
“We would like to point out that Saudi Arabia’s aid has exceeded a total of $86 billion since 1996, providing support to some 80 countries,” he said.
King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center has executed over 996 projects worth $3.25 billion since the day it was established in May 2015. The projects benefited over 44 countries.