WHO and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia sign agreements in support of health priorities

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