Saudi Gazette report

NEW YORK — Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), called for urgent international action to address the critical displacement crisis facing the world today.

He stressed the need to safeguard the right of all people to live in peace and dignity and to uphold human rights everywhere.

Speaking at a high-level panel discussion titled “Addressing Record Displacement through Durable Solutions and Partnerships” on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, Al-Rabeeah highlighted that the reality is alarming: in 2024, more than 123 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide equivalent to one in every 67 people.

Sudan alone accounts for over 14 million displaced persons, the largest displacement crisis globally, alongside Yemen, Ukraine, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Afghanistan, and other countries.

Al-Rabeeah underscored that conflicts are the primary driver of displacement, forcing people from their homes, tearing families apart, and destabilizing entire regions.

“Unless we find solutions to ongoing conflicts and prevent new ones, humanitarian aid will never be enough,” he said.

He affirmed that Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has not stood idle in the face of such crises.

The Kingdom has combined decisive diplomacy with major humanitarian contributions to ensure aid reaches those most in need, while also addressing the root causes of displacement through dialogue, mediation, and conflict resolution.

This ranges from calls to lift sanctions on Syria to alleviate suffering, to Saudi Arabia’s firm support for a two-state solution in Palestine as the only path to lasting peace, and its categorical condemnation of attempts to forcibly displace Palestinians.

He noted that the United Nations has confirmed famine and genocide against the Palestinian people, stressing that such atrocities demand urgent action to prevent escalation and to stop their spread elsewhere.

“Failure to act will worsen the displacement crisis and compound humanitarian suffering,” he warned.

Al-Rabeeah also pointed to Saudi Arabia’s direct support for refugees, which has exceeded $1.2 billion through 457 relief projects. Of these, KSrelief implemented 362 projects worth nearly $502 million, focused on providing urgent and ongoing assistance to displaced persons, refugees, and host communities.

The center has also supported education, vocational training, and resilience-building initiatives to strengthen affected communities.

In conclusion, Al-Rabeeah urged UN member states to double their efforts to resolve conflicts, uphold international humanitarian law, and increase humanitarian support.

He called for efficient use of resources, locally led humanitarian responses, and unified global action to end conflicts, protect civilians, and strengthen resilience.