Brussels: The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) took part in the fifth Humanitarian Senior Officials Meeting on Ukraine at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. This meeting, held on January 28, gathered key figures to discuss the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and the international response.
According to Saudi Press Agency, KSrelief was represented by Dr. Hana Omar, Director of Partnerships and International Relations. The meeting was chaired by Andreas Papaconstantinou, the European Commission Director for the European Neighborhood, Middle East, and South-West and Central Asia. Other notable participants included European Commissioner for Preparedness, Crisis Management and Equality Hadja Lahbib, along with Ukrainian officials such as Presidential Office Deputy Head Iryna Vereshchuk, Deputy Minister of Social Policy for European Integration Iryna Postolovska, and Deputy Minister of Health for European Integration Maryna Slobodnichenko.
Dr. Omar contributed to a session titled "Sustainability of Humanitarian Funding in 2025," where she outlined Saudi Arabia's support for Ukrainian refugees in Poland. This support, provided through KSrelief, includes two agreements with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) valued at $10 million. She highlighted the Kingdom's total contributions of $400 million, which encompassed an air bridge featuring 21 airplanes delivering medical supplies, power generators, and shelter equipment.
In her address, Dr. Omar noted that Saudi Arabia has supplied 125 ambulances to bolster Ukraine's healthcare sector and entered into numerous agreements with UN organizations to aid vulnerable populations with protection and healthcare services. She emphasized the necessity of enhancing international aid coordination to ensure an effective and sustainable humanitarian response while also encouraging increased donor contributions.
The meeting concentrated on Ukraine's pressing humanitarian needs, the localization of humanitarian responses, and the difficulties faced in delivering aid amid escalating demands. Saudi Arabia's engagement in the meeting underscores its dedication to leading humanitarian initiatives and reinforcing international cooperation in alignment with humanitarian principles and sustainable development.