Geneva:Saudi Arabia, represented by Aqeel bin Jumaan Al-Ghamdi, Assistant Supervisor General for Planning and Development at the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief), took part in the Donor Support Group Expert-Level Meeting for the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) held in Geneva, Switzerland. The meeting included representatives from 30 donor countries and senior officials from OCHA.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Al-Ghamdi presented Saudi Arabia's vision for enhancing the international humanitarian system. Key points included the importance of improving coordination between humanitarian organizations and the UN, aligning strategic priorities with available financial resources, diversifying income sources, and utilizing community initiatives and innovative financing methods, such as Saudi Arabia's Sahem Platform, to ensure aid reaches the most vulnerable.
Al-Ghamdi addressed the findings from OCHA's October 2026 report, indicating that 252.8 million people required humanitarian assistance, with 89.7 million targeted for priority response. The operational data in the report noted that aid had reached nearly one million people.
Regarding Somalia's humanitarian reform initiative, Al-Ghamdi mentioned that around 1.6 million people were targeted for priority response, with nearly 600,000 beneficiaries reached. The response secured approximately $236.3 million out of the $350 million needed.
He emphasized the significance of supporting Somalia's national institutions and local organizations and advocated for an integrated approach linking food security, water, health, livelihoods, and protection. Additionally, Al-Ghamdi called for a shift from emergency relief to comprehensive humanitarian recovery.
Modern technologies, artificial intelligence, and geospatial analysis were highlighted as crucial tools for early warning of humanitarian disasters, determining priorities, ensuring data protection, and involving affected communities in decision-making processes. Al-Ghamdi also stressed the importance of strengthening humanitarian diplomacy and international coordination to overcome challenges in relief operations, particularly in regions like Sudan, the Gaza Strip, Yemen, and Syria.
The meeting further explored OCHA's future strategic directions, developments in international humanitarian access, and methods to enhance the efficiency of humanitarian response amidst escalating challenges faced by communities.
Source Saudi Press Agency
