RIYADH — Saudi Arabia signed virtually on Thursday an agreement with the United States to implement a multi-sector program to support Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar district, Saudi Press Agency reported. As part of the agreement, multi-use housing units worth $2 million will be made to rehabilitate the refugees. The rehabilitation program will be implemented by the World Food Program. The agreement was signed by Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah , supervisor-general of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief), Saudi Arabia's charity arm, and John Barsa, acting deputy administrator of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), in the presence of Princess Reema Bint Bandar, Saudi ambassador to the US and John Abizaid, US ambassador to Saudi Arabia. A total of 87,165 individuals are expected to benefit from the program, including the people in need and most affected by natural disasters and conflicts in Bangladesh. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Al-Rabeeah lauded the agreement. He said Saudi Arabia has always stood by the Rohingya, both in their areas of displacement and in the Kingdom and has provided them with all necessary services, care and facilities. Al-Rabeeah said the agreement comes within the framework of continuous Saudi support to alleviate the suffering of the Rohingya people. He thanked the Saudi government led by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman for its valuable assistance to affected people and countries across the world. For his part, John Barsa thanked KSrelief and the WFP for the partnership in Bangladesh and other countries. He said that for more than three years Rohingya refugees have suffered, and that through this agreement they will receive much-needed support. Princess Reema Bint Bandar said that KSrelief plays a key role in providing relief to disaster zones and people in need around the world. The Saudi charity arm has taken part in more than 1,300 humanitarian operations to date. She added that KSRelief, along with USAID, will complement WFP's efforts in helping Rohingya refugees in Cox's Bazar. She said the agreement is a testament to what the continuous Saudi partnership with the US is capable of achieving, in order to achieve peace, security and prosperity in the region and around the world.
