NEW YORK: The Chief of the Saudi aid agency has called for urgent action to address the global displacement crisis, stressing the need to uphold everyone’s right to peace and dignity.
King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) Supervisor-General Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah was speaking at a dialogue session on addressing record levels of displacement on the sidelines of the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Friday.
He revealed that the number of forcibly displaced people around the world exceeded 123 million in 2024, equivalent to one in every 67 individuals globally. He pointed to Sudan as the largest humanitarian crisis, with more than 14 million people displaced, followed by ongoing emergencies in Yemen, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Afghanistan.
He emphasised that conflict remains the primary cause of forced displacement and warned that humanitarian aid alone cannot address the scale of the crisis.
Dr. Al Rabeeah affirmed that Saudi Arabia has responded with both decisive diplomatic efforts and substantial humanitarian support. He noted the Kingdom’s continued work to address the root causes of displacement through dialogue and mediation, as well as its calls for lifting sanctions on Syria.
He also condemned attempts to forcibly displace the Palestinian people and reiterated Saudi Arabia’s strong support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Dr. Al Rabeeah cited United Nations reports confirming that famine and acts of genocide are being perpetrated against Palestinians in Gaza. He described these practices as unacceptable and urged the international community to take swift and meaningful action in response.
He mentioned Saudi support for refugees, which exceeds $1.2 billion through 457 relief projects. KSrelief alone has implemented 362 projects valued at $502 million to support displaced persons, refugees, and host communities.
Al Rabeeah called on member states to redouble efforts to resolve conflicts, adhere to international humanitarian law, increase support, and ensure efficient use of resources along with strong local leadership in humanitarian responses.
