Riyadh:The Saudi Voluntary Program in Sudan, named 'Athar,' was launched by Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), at the KSrelief headquarters in Riyadh.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Dr. Al Rabeeah emphasized Saudi Arabia's long-standing tradition of assisting other nations, which began with the unification of the Kingdom by King Abdulaziz. Over the past thirty years, the Kingdom's humanitarian aid has reached 175 countries, with a total contribution exceeding $145.7 billion.
He further highlighted the creation of KSrelief in 2015 by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to consolidate Saudi humanitarian efforts. KSrelief has become a global example of non-discriminatory institutional humanitarian work, having implemented 4,475 projects across 113 countries.
Al Rabeeah also mentioned that KSrelief has been tasked with hosting international humanitarian volunteer activities, showcasing the generosity of Saudi volunteers. The center currently boasts 85,000 registered volunteers and has carried out 1,471 campaigns in 61 countries, benefiting nearly three million people, in alignment with Saudi Vision 2030 goals.
He noted that Sudan, along with Yemen and Gaza, has consistently been a priority for Saudi support across different sectors. The Athar program, in particular, is an important initiative aimed at alleviating suffering in Sudan by expanding training and economic empowerment efforts, especially in the health sector. The program includes 200 volunteer projects and over 58,000 surgical procedures, with an expected 600,000 beneficiaries.