Saudi Arabia stresses importance of strengthening international cooperation

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has stressed the importance of strengthening international cooperation between governments and international organisations, to protect and preserve human rights.

These comments were made by Saudi Arabia's First Secretary of the Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Saleh Al Amiri, in his speech before the UN, during the 72nd Regular Session of the UN General Assembly, reported the Saudi Press Agency, SPA.

Al Amiri was responding to a report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees regarding refugees, returnees and displaced persons, and another by the Secretary-General on refugees in Africa.

The Kingdom praised the efforts made by the UN and on the international level, especially UNHCR's progress in implementing its commitments through its provision of US$443 million to national NGOs, and for its constant efforts in seeking greater coherence, efficiency, transparency and accountability.

Speaking on his country's efforts towards refugees, Al Amiri said that since the outbreak of the crisis in Syria, the Kingdom has been at the forefront of counties providing humanitarian support to help ease the suffering of people affected.

"The Kingdom has received nearly 2.5 million Syrian citizens, and does not treat them as refugees or put them in refugees' camps in order to preserve their dignity and safety," Al Amiri said.

The official pointed out that the Kingdom has also taken in almost half a million Yemenis and provided them with several facilitations including special exemptions from various resident and fee regulations, and allowed them to bring their families. It also provided free education to 285,000 Yemeni students inside the Kingdom, and provided US$400 million through the King Salman Centre for Relief and Humanitarian Action, Al Amiri added.

With regard to refugees in other countries, Al Amiri said that Saudi Arabia had provided $59 million to support the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in February 2016, pointing out that the Kingdom's commitment to assisting Afghani refugees in Pakistan was $30 million. It also provided $20 million towards helping the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, added SPA.