Saudi Arabia to Host Donor Conference for Sahel Region Displaced Persons on October 26
Saudi Arabia is set to convene a donor conference aimed at addressing the humanitarian needs of displaced individuals in the Sahel region of Africa on October 26. This initiative has been announced by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) and is supported by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The gathering is a direct response to the escalating humanitarian crisis affecting countries such as Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Cameroon, Burkina Faso, and Mali, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
The conference intends to mobilize essential resources and coordinate efforts to provide critical assistance to the millions affected in the Sahel and Lake Chad regions. The United Nations estimates that approximately 33 million individuals in these areas are in dire need of humanitarian aid and protection, which includes around 11 million internally displaced persons and refugees.
Co-hosted by KSrelief and the OIC, the conference will collaborate with the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees. The Sahel and Lake Chad regions have been grappling with a multifaceted crisis for over a decade, marked by social and economic instability, compounded by the diminishing water levels of Lake Chad.
This conference will concentrate on gathering resources for humanitarian and development initiatives, with a particular focus on implementing UN-coordinated humanitarian response plans. Additionally, it seeks to create partnerships that will foster effective long-term solutions to the crisis.
Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Supervisor-General of KSrelief, underscored the significance of the conference, stating, “This conference is a critical step toward mobilizing the necessary resources and forging partnerships to address the pressing humanitarian needs in these areas. Jointly, we can bring hope and relief to millions.”
Moreover, OIC Secretary-General Hissein Brahim Taha urged member states and international partners to provide financial support to enhance the conditions in the troubled region. He emphasized the conference’s importance in implementing the resolutions set forth by the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.
Philipo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, also stressed the urgent necessity for support. He stated, “We must spare no effort to assist forcibly displaced populations and the communities that host them,” while expressing appreciation to Saudi Arabia, the OIC, and other partners for their commitment to resolving the significant funding shortfall that the region is currently facing.
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