King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre announces new US$3.5 million contribution to UNICEF’s life-saving nutrition, water and sanitation support to the earthquake-affected children and families in Syria

RIYADH/DAMASCUS/AMMAN, 29 August 2023 – King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) announces a new US$3.5 million contribution to UNICEF’s life-saving nutrition, water and sanitation (WASH) support to the earthquake-affected children and families in Syria.

With the impact of the devastating earthquakes, the unprecedented economic crisis and disease outbreaks, the humanitarian situation of children and families in Syria has deteriorated. More people are now in need of basic water and sanitation services in the earthquake-affected governorates. According to the Joint Nutrition and Food Security Assessment 2022, the nutritional status of children under the age of five and pregnant and lactating women is worsening. The stunting prevalence among children under the age of five is 17.6 per cent while child wasting equals 4.6 per cent. The wasting prevalence among pregnant and lactating women is 10 per cent. The agreements signed today with KSrelief will help UNICEF reach 75,000 vulnerable people: 51,000 children and 24,000 pregnant and lactating women with essential nutrition supplies and 115,000 people with increased access to WASH services in the earthquake-affected areas.

“The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through KSrelief, is always committed to its ongoing support for the vulnerable children and families affected by the humanitarian crisis and the devasting earthquakes in Syria, through its valuable partnership with UNICEF,” said Engineer Ahmad Albaiz, KSrelief Assistant Supervisor General of Operations and Programmes. “The project, is part of the humanitarian aid provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through the work of KSrelief, in countries around the world.”

"UNICEF thanks the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and KSrelief for their longstanding partnership and continuous support to UNICEF programmes in countries where this humanitarian support is most needed,” said Eltayeb Adam, UNICEF Representative to the Gulf. “Children of Syria have borne the brunt of the conflict and the devasting earthquakes made their lives even more challenging. This generous contribution will help the children living in Syria and give them a window of hope.”

Since its establishment in 2015, KSrelief has worked together with UNICEF to bring humanitarian relief to millions of children who need it most, in some of the hardest-to-reach areas around the world.