Published on 11:09 AM, September 20, 2017

Saudi King orders $15m to help Rohingya refugees

Saudi Arabia's King Salman attends a session of Saudi Shura Council in Riyadh, December 23, 2015. Photo: Reuters

King Salman of Saudi Arabia yesterday ordered the allocation of $15 million to alleviate the suffering of Rohingya Muslims who fled persecution in Rakhine state of Myanmar.

Dr Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, adviser at the Royal Court and general supervisor of the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Work said this in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency, reports Saudi Gazette.

He made the remarks following his meeting with members of the National Council on US-Arab Relations and the Cooperation Committee for partnership between the US and Gulf Cooperation Council at the headquarters of the US House of Representatives in Washington.

"A specialized team from the center will be heading to Bangladesh within the coming few hours to make an assessment of the condition of Rohingya refugees there and to find out what are the essential requirements that are to be made available to them urgently, as well as to extend assistance in terms of relief, humanitarian help and shelter.

"As per the directive of the King, the center has carried out a number of projects, while some others are in various phases of implementation," Al-Rabeeah said.

He added that the center has implemented the first phase of the repatriation of Rohingya from Rakhine state in a number of governorates in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration.



Source: Saudi Gazette