The “Donors’ Conference to Support Displaced Persons and Refugees in the Sahel and Lake Chad Region” begins in Jeddah

Today, the Donors’ Conference to Support Displaced Persons and Refugees in the Sahel and Lake Chad Region, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia represented by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center in Jeddah, began in cooperation with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, and in coordination with the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

The conference was opened with a speech by the Kingdom delivered by His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Eng. Walid bin Abdul Karim Al-Khuraiji, during which he stressed the Kingdom’s keenness to respond to everything that serves humanitarian issues and provides the necessary assistance to needy peoples in the member states of the organization during crises, based on its established humanitarian principles, and in line with the Charter of the organization.

He pointed out that the Kingdom has spared no effort throughout its history to extend a helping hand to countries and peoples in need, and to provide relief to the afflicted around the world without discrimination, embodying the noble Islamic values, and inspired by the principles of solidarity and the spirit of cooperation and solidarity, based on the directives of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, may God protect them.

He indicated that the Kingdom has harnessed all capabilities and resources to serve humanitarian issues through its pioneering humanitarian arm, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, hoping that these effective efforts of the Kingdom in this field will contribute to establishing security and stability, and that peace will prevail in all regions.

For his part, His Excellency the Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Hussein Ibrahim Taha, delivered a speech in which he explained that this donors’ conference stands as a witness to the effective solidarity between the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and its international partners to mobilize support and joint response to the recent challenges related to the special crisis of refugees and displaced persons in the Sahel and Lake Chad region, explaining that the goal of the conference is to mobilize the necessary financial resources to support the countries of the Sahel and Lake Chad, as well as to provide space for consultations and exchange of views between partners and actors in the humanitarian field.

He pointed out the importance of working to meet the urgent needs of those affected by the humanitarian crisis in the Sahel and Lake Chad region, calling on donor countries, institutions affiliated with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and partners to provide their financial contributions to the countries concerned.
For his part, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, in his speech, extended his sincere thanks to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for holding this vital event, indicating that the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin region has enormous and unlimited potential to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. However, the region also faces profound challenges, from violence and terrorism to the climate crisis, which has led to famines and displacement crises, with more than 30 million people in need of humanitarian assistance.

He said: “The United Nations supports governments to provide food, health care, education and shelter, but we need more support and funding for humanitarian response plans,” calling for moving beyond aid and addressing the root causes of crises such as addressing poverty and inequality, especially among women and girls, adapting to climate change, and promoting peace and democracy, urging the parties to end hostilities, protect civilians and ensure full access to humanitarian assistance.

The attendees then watched a documentary film on the humanitarian crises in the Sahel and Lake Chad region.

The conference aims to mobilize resources for humanitarian and development initiatives targeting affected populations, including displaced persons and refugees, in addition to raising awareness of the multifaceted crisis and addressing it by building strong partnerships to enhance effective humanitarian response and greater support for long-term solutions.

This hosting comes as a continuation of the Kingdom’s pioneering role in supporting affected and afflicted communities around the world; contributing to alleviating their suffering and providing them with the necessary needs, and within the framework of its usual keenness to support international efforts in the field of humanitarian relief.