Oslo: The Donor Support Group for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) held its high-level meeting in Oslo on Wednesday, chaired by Norway. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia participated in the meeting, represented by Dr. Aqeel bin Jumaan Al-Ghamdi, Assistant Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) for Planning and Development.
The meeting was attended by senior officials, including Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher.
During the meeting, Dr. Al-Ghamdi reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment to enhancing the effectiveness of humanitarian responses through strategic partnerships and field-based planning. He emphasized the importance of adhering to humanitarian principles and delivering sustainable, impactful assistance to affected communities.
The session included detailed discussions on the “Resetting Humanitarian Action” initiative, a key reform aimed at empowering local communities, building resilience, and advancing long-term, evidence-based humanitarian responses. Dr. Al-Ghamdi voiced Saudi Arabia’s strong support for the initiative and stressed the need to align strategic planning with on-the-ground implementation.
The Kingdom also presented its vision for strengthening its partnership with OCHA, proposing expanded coordination mechanisms and greater transparency. Several donor countries welcomed the proposal, recognizing its role in improving response quality and fostering trust among stakeholders.
On the issue of humanitarian financing, Dr. Al-Ghamdi highlighted the importance of funding sustainability through diversification and innovation. He underscored Saudi Arabia’s support for flexible and rapid response funding mechanisms, especially in the face of increasing global humanitarian needs.
Addressing the protection of civilians and respect for humanitarian principles, the Kingdom reiterated its commitment to international humanitarian law and highlighted several initiatives by KSrelief aimed at improving humanitarian access in conflict zones and protecting vulnerable populations.
The meeting concluded with the formal handover of the Donor Support Group chairmanship from Norway to Germany. Dr. Al-Ghamdi thanked Norway for its leadership and congratulated Germany on its new role, affirming the Kingdom’s readiness to strengthen cooperation with international partners under the new chairmanship.
