King Salman’s Humanitarian Program signs agreements with World Health Organization and Islamic Development Bank to eradicate polio and support living fund

On the sidelines of the fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum, the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid signed a joint cooperation agreement with the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop a strategy to eradicate polio worldwide, with a total value of 300 million US dollars. The agreement was signed by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Advisor at the Royal Court and General Supervisor of the Center, and Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO.

The aim of the agreement is to support international efforts to eradicate polio by assisting WHO in addressing the disease in high-risk countries. This includes a range of preventive, epidemiological, and treatment activities aimed at eliminating the polio virus in targeted countries, especially Pakistan and Afghanistan. The agreement also seeks to support national programs in countries close to eradicating the disease, as well as supporting global efforts to strengthen the health sector in targeted countries by supporting preventive programs and providing all necessary resources to eradicate the virus.

This agreement is part of Saudi Arabia’s efforts, through the King Salman Center for Relief, to support international organizations in fighting the spread of epidemic diseases worldwide. Additionally, on the sidelines of the forum, the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid signed a financial contribution memorandum of 100 million US dollars with the Islamic Development Bank to support the Livelihoods and Social Programs Fund managed by the bank.

The memorandum was signed by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah and Dr. Bandar Hajjar, President of the Islamic Development Bank. Under the memorandum, support will be provided for projects in the fund’s second phase, and efforts will be unified with other donors to create joint financing to provide easy access to funding for addressing vital issues affecting the needy in the bank’s member countries, such as health, agriculture, and rural infrastructure.

Approximately 200 million individuals from 37 countries, mostly in the deserts of Africa and Asia, will benefit from projects funded by the Livelihoods and Social Programs Fund. This initiative is part of the efforts of the King Salman Center for Relief to collaborate with regional and international humanitarian organizations to support humanitarian work around the world.