Sarah Attar, one of the first Saudi female Olympic athletes, waving the Saudi flag during the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games, which kicked off late Friday night. Saudi Arabia's first female Olympic athletes made their appearance dressed in traditional hijabs. Wojdan Shahrkhani (not in photo) and Sarah Attar are due to compete in the +78kg category in judo and 800 meters respectively. – Reuters JEDDAH – A five-day Saudi fundraising campaign to support the people in Syria has raised more than $72.33 million, Interior Minister Prince Ahmed Bin Abdul Aziz said Saturday. The campaign, launched Monday, received donations worth SR271.245 million ($72.33 million), Saudi Press Agency quoted Prince Ahmed, who is the General Supervisor of the campaign, as saying. The national fundraising effort saw a donation of SR20 million ($5.3 million) from King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. Crown Prince Salman Bin Abdul Aziz, Deputy Premier and Defense Minister, donated SR10 million ($2.6 million). The campaign also collected food, medical equipment, clothes, tents, blankets, and jewelry as part of its drive to support the people of Syria. Under the instructions of King Abdullah, the five-day campaign encouraged Saudi citizens and residents to support the people of Syria as they face prolonged suffering at the hands of their own government. Prince Ahmed hailed the massive response to the campaign. He said that the campaign prepared an operational plan for the direct delivery of assistance to the Syrian people. Alwaleed Foundation donated SR5 million during the campaign. The campaign will continue to accept cash donations through its account at the National Commercial Bank. In-kind donations will be accepted throughout the Kingdom until Monday, July 30. In addition to humanitarian aid, Saudi Arabia continues to call for a transition of power in Syria, as well as the enforcement of UN sanctions against the Syrian regime. The Kingdom has asked for the issue of Syria to be forwarded to the UN Security Council. – SG
