GENEVA: Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its commitment to global humanitarian causes during a statement delivered at the UN Economic and Social Council in Geneva.
The Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations and international organizations in Geneva, Ambassador Abdulmohsen bin Khothaila, said Saudi Arabia continues its leading role as one of the world’s largest donors in humanitarian and development assistance, despite global economic challenges.
He highlighted that the growing number of armed conflicts and violations of international humanitarian law have worsened global humanitarian crises, underscoring the importance of addressing root causes to reduce human suffering.
Ambassador bin Khothaila also referenced Saudi Arabia’s active participation in the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) initiative to renew global commitment to international humanitarian law. He noted that the Kingdom’s hosting of peace talks reflects its belief in dialogue as a path to sustainable peace.
On the Palestinian issue, the ambassador strongly condemned the violations and war crimes committed by Israeli forces against Palestinians. He criticized the blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza, calling it a breach of international law, and reiterated the Kingdom’s call for an immediate and lasting ceasefire.
He also noted that a peace conference co-hosted by Saudi Arabia and France, originally planned for June 2025 to advance the two-state solution, had been postponed due to recent regional developments.
Ambassador bin Khothaila emphasized Saudi Arabia’s integrated approach to crisis response, highlighting the efforts of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) in delivering both relief and long-term development assistance.
