Agreements strengthen cholera response and malaria prevention in Yemen, increase international polio eradication efforts and help dialysis remedy for Sudanese refugees
Riyadh 25 February 2025 – The World Well being Group (WHO) and the King Salman Humanitarian Assist and Aid Centre (KSrelief) agreed a sequence of recent pledges to ship life-saving well being interventions for folks threatened by cholera and malaria in Yemen, well being companies for Sudanese who’ve fled battle of their nation to neighbouring Egypt, and help polio eradication efforts in international locations the place the virus continues to flow into. The agreements have been signed throughout the fourth Riyadh Worldwide Humanitarian Discussion board, being held 24-25 February.
The Discussion board brings collectively companions from throughout the humanitarian system to advocate for the survival, well-being and dignity of individuals affected by crises, and for the protection and safety of assist staff.
“WHO drastically values our partnership with KSrelief and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which helps present important well being help to tens of millions of individuals impacted by conflict, illness and displacement,” stated Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-Normal. “The immense scale of humanitarian struggling all over the world requires sustained help from the worldwide neighborhood. For 10 years now, KSrelief has exemplified this. We should not neglect, although, that the most effective medication, for all affected by conflicts, is peace.”
WHO’s Nation Workplace for Yemen and KSrelief finalized two pledges: a US$12 million settlement specializing in malaria prevention and management, and an extra US$2.1 million to help an present settlement to develop cholera response and management measures, and enhance entry to remedy in affected and high-risk areas.
KSrelief signed one other settlement, of US$3.6 million, with WHO Egypt to supply dialysis remedy for Sudanese sheltering in Egypt after fleeing the battle of their nation, which has led to the world’s largest displacement disaster.
“KSrelief has been a useful associate for WHO, supporting tens of millions in Yemen, the occupied Palestinian territory, Syria, and past. Our area has been onerous hit by a few of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, and I welcome the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s dedication to supporting well being past its borders. This 12 months, we’re additionally signing an important settlement for polio eradication, as we stay the final area on the earth the place wild poliovirus persists,” stated WHO Regional Director Dr. Hanan Balkhy.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its US$500 million pledge to the World Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) on the discussion board on Monday. The funds will probably be instantly disbursed to speed up efforts to get rid of wild polio in Pakistan and Afghanistan and comprise variant polio outbreaks.
The Riyadh Worldwide Humanitarian Discussion board is a biennial occasion organised by KSrelief in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This 12 months’s discussion board was held to coincide with the tenth anniversary of KSrelief and featured high-level discussions on battle, catastrophe response, humanitarian assist supply, and compelled displacement amid escalating international crises.
