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Published: Aug 23, 2011 00:14 Updated: Aug 23, 2011 17:07
JEDDAH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah launched the national fundraising campaign for famine-hit Somalis by donating SR20 million. The telethon collected nearly SR100 million as of early Tuesday. The telethon has been extended to another day.Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, gave SR10 million to the fund while Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif donated SR5 million.
Petrochemical giant Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) said it would be giving SR5 million. Prince Saud bin Abdullah Thunayan, chairman of SABIC, said the donation came within the framework of the company’s social responsibility.
The UN World Food Program, meanwhile, said it received a generous Saudi donation of $50 million to help save Somali children and said the amount would be used to feed more than half a million children suffering from malnutrition in the East African country.
In a statement on the occasion of the telethon, Prince Naif urged Saudi businessmen, banks, businesses and philanthropists to donate generously to the people of Somalia, who are suffering from the worst famine and drought in 60 years.
“The condition of the Somali people is very bad and they need our support,” he said and urged Saudis and residents to compete with one another in helping the Somalis during the holy month when good deeds are highly rewarded. King Abdullah announced the fundraiser on Saturday.
“Inspired by the Qur'anic verses and moved by the sense of responsibility toward our brethren in Somalia ... King Abdullah has instructed that Monday, Aug. 22, will be the beginning of the fundraiser," a Royal Court announcement said.
Saudi Arabian Television Channel One led the campaign, as a number of Islamic scholars appeared on the show encouraging the public to donate generously to the people of Somalia. The channel also broadcast the amounts donated by individuals and companies. Radio Riyadh, Radio Jeddah, Radio Qur’an and Nida Al-Islam Radio are also participating in the campaign.
The National Campaign for the Relief of Somalis has allocated a unified account 10400077777201 at NCB to receive donations in cash. It has also opened an IBAN account SA43100 00020177777000104 at NCB for the purpose.
People can also make donations through NCB’s toll-free number 8002443333 or logging onto the bank’s website www.alahlionline.com or using the bank’s ATMs.
The campaign will also accept food such as rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil, dates, milk and juices as well as tents, bed-sheets, clothes, medical appliances, medicine and first-aid materials.
Donations in Jeddah will be received at the Education Ministry’s stadium in the Faisaliya district. The committee in Jeddah said it would also receive gold, jewelry, cars and other valuables.
WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran said the Kingdom’s contribution was in response to its appeal for funds to help save the lives of thousands of children before they fall into severe stages of malnutrition. The Saudi donation will be specifically used to feed 600,000 children for two months, he said.
Somalia has been the worst hit of several countries in East Africa affected by what the United Nations has described as the region's most severe drought in 60 years. The WFP said it was targeting food assistance to some 1.5 million people in central and northern Somalia and Mogadishu and was ready to try to reach an additional 2.2 million people in southern parts of the country. But the UN agency warned its Horn of Africa appeal was still $250 million short.
Petrochemical giant Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) said it would be giving SR5 million. Prince Saud bin Abdullah Thunayan, chairman of SABIC, said the donation came within the framework of the company’s social responsibility.
The UN World Food Program, meanwhile, said it received a generous Saudi donation of $50 million to help save Somali children and said the amount would be used to feed more than half a million children suffering from malnutrition in the East African country.
In a statement on the occasion of the telethon, Prince Naif urged Saudi businessmen, banks, businesses and philanthropists to donate generously to the people of Somalia, who are suffering from the worst famine and drought in 60 years.
“The condition of the Somali people is very bad and they need our support,” he said and urged Saudis and residents to compete with one another in helping the Somalis during the holy month when good deeds are highly rewarded. King Abdullah announced the fundraiser on Saturday.
“Inspired by the Qur'anic verses and moved by the sense of responsibility toward our brethren in Somalia ... King Abdullah has instructed that Monday, Aug. 22, will be the beginning of the fundraiser," a Royal Court announcement said.
Saudi Arabian Television Channel One led the campaign, as a number of Islamic scholars appeared on the show encouraging the public to donate generously to the people of Somalia. The channel also broadcast the amounts donated by individuals and companies. Radio Riyadh, Radio Jeddah, Radio Qur’an and Nida Al-Islam Radio are also participating in the campaign.
The National Campaign for the Relief of Somalis has allocated a unified account 10400077777201 at NCB to receive donations in cash. It has also opened an IBAN account SA43100 00020177777000104 at NCB for the purpose.
People can also make donations through NCB’s toll-free number 8002443333 or logging onto the bank’s website www.alahlionline.com or using the bank’s ATMs.
The campaign will also accept food such as rice, sugar, flour, cooking oil, dates, milk and juices as well as tents, bed-sheets, clothes, medical appliances, medicine and first-aid materials.
Donations in Jeddah will be received at the Education Ministry’s stadium in the Faisaliya district. The committee in Jeddah said it would also receive gold, jewelry, cars and other valuables.
WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran said the Kingdom’s contribution was in response to its appeal for funds to help save the lives of thousands of children before they fall into severe stages of malnutrition. The Saudi donation will be specifically used to feed 600,000 children for two months, he said.
Somalia has been the worst hit of several countries in East Africa affected by what the United Nations has described as the region's most severe drought in 60 years. The WFP said it was targeting food assistance to some 1.5 million people in central and northern Somalia and Mogadishu and was ready to try to reach an additional 2.2 million people in southern parts of the country. But the UN agency warned its Horn of Africa appeal was still $250 million short.
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