RIYADH, 9 June 2022

As part of its comprehensive humanitarian and relief efforts, and according to its pioneering role in providing all forms of assistance to countries in need, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia announced today the provision of a USD 30 million grant to support the Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund (AHTF). This fund operates under the umbrella of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) in coordination with the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The Kingdom announced that the USD 30 million grant will be provided through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD). The purpose of the grant is to contribute to alleviating the suffering of the Afghan people. The fund is also intended to reduce the risks of deterioration of the critical humanitarian situation and possible economic collapse in Afghanistan, both of which might also affect regional and international peace and stability.

At the headquarters of KSrelief, Riyadh, a memorandum of financial contribution to support the Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund was signed in the presence of: Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah, Advisor – Royal Court and Supervisor General of KSrelief; Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, President and Chairman of IsDB Group; Mr. Sultan Al Marshad, the CEO of SFD; Dr. Saleh Al Suhaibani, the Kingdom’s Permanent Representative to OIC; Ambassador Tariq Ali Bakheet, the Special Envoy of OIC Secretary-General to Afghanistan; and Eng. Mohammad Al Saati, the President of IsDB’s Trust Fund. 

The grant is one of the support efforts provided by Saudi Arabia to Afghanistan, including relief air and land bridges which were implemented to help the Afghan people. Afghanistan was also supported over the past decades with a number of projects, including in the humanitarian, health, education, WASH, and food security sectors. The total cost of these projects is more than one billion Saudi Riyals. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is keen to provide aid based upon its awareness of its responsibility and role in achieving security and prosperity for Afghanistan and its people.