The Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum on 24-25 February 2025 brought together global partners from the humanitarian sector to discuss urgent health and humanitarian issues. It focused on advocacy for the survival, health diplomacy, well-being, and dignity of people affected by crises, as well as the security of aid workers. The forum, marking the 10th anniversary of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief), witnessed key agreements and pledges aimed at addressing ongoing humanitarian challenges in the Middle East and beyond.
KSRelief Supervisor-General, Abdullah Al Rabeeah, and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General signing funding agreements in response to humanitarian crises. Photo by: WHO/Karim Yassmineh
WHO and KSrelief signed new agreements aimed at malaria prevention and cholera control in Yemen. This includes a US$ 12 million for malaria control and US$ 2.1 million to expand cholera treatment. Another agreement, worth US$ 3.6 million, was made between KSrelief and WHO Egypt Country Office to provide dialysis treatment for Sudanese refugees in Egypt due to the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
Read Press Release: WHO and King Salman Humanitarian Aid & Relief Centre expand life-saving health interventions with new agreements at Riyadh Humanitarian Forum
UNICEF Executive Director, Catherine Russel, KSRelief Supervisor-General, Abdullah Al Rabeeah, and Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General signing the Global Polio Eradication Initiative funding agreement for US$ 500 million. Photo by: WHO/Karim Yassmineh
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its US$ 500 million pledge to the GPEI, initially made in April 2024. Two funding agreements were signed with WHO US$ 300 million and UNICEF US$ 200 million. This contribution will support efforts to vaccinate 370 million children annually, aiming to eradicate polio globally. The commitment highlights Saudi Arabia’s role in combatting polio, particularly in conflict-affected regions such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Gaza, where the virus has made a resurgence.
Read Press Release: Kingdom of Saudi Arabia confirms US$ 500 million commitment to global polio eradication effort
The Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum 2025 was a significant event that underscored the continued partnership between WHO and KSrelief, as well as with other international partners to address critical humanitarian health crises. The agreements made during the forum are pivotal in combating diseases like malaria, cholera, and polio, and ensuring better healthcare for displaced populations. The forum also highlighted Saudi Arabia’s ongoing commitment to global humanitarian efforts, reaffirming its leadership role in tackling some of the world’s pressing health crises.
