Generous Contribution by Saudi Arabia’s King Will Aid Millions of Refugees, Secretary-General Says, Expressing Gratitude to Leader

The following statement was issued by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today:

The Secretary-General expresses profound gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, for his personal compassion and commitment to help those in need — irrespective of their faith, sect or ethnicity — through his generous contribution of $104 million to the United Nations World Food Programme.

This aid will help the United Nations provide millions of refugees from Syria, South Sudan and Somalia with life-saving food and nutrition assistance at a crucial time when food operations in those areas are under threat of suspension due to lack of financial support.