Saudi humanitarian aid has been handed over to the Republic of Mali to alleviate the effects of a recent drought and locusts which were destroying agricultural crops in that country. The aid to Mali comes in implementation of the directives of King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques. The aid was handed over by Saudi Acting Charge d'Affaires in Mali Ibrahim Bin Abdulwahab Al-Ghareeb, head of Saudi relief delegation, Ibrahim Bin Sulaiman Al-Duraiweesh, Ministry of Finance representative, Sultan Bin Mohammed Al-Subaie, and chief of the Food Security Commission in Mali, Nana Lansri. The aid includes 3,667 tons of rice. Lansri asserted that the Kingdom will always support the people of Mali who now face a food crisis in some parts of the republic. “The aid provided by the Saudi government for the government of Mali to support its citizens during the blessed month of Ramadan will contribute in alleviating the suffering of Malians,” she added. The chief of the Food Security Commission thanked the government and people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, commending the good cooperation by the Saudi relief team with all concerned officials. Al-Ghareeb said the food aid showed the King's humanitarian gesture of offering help and assistance to those affected throughout the world. During the first days of the blessed month of Ramadan, over 3,000 tons of rice was handed over to the people of Mali, he added. Al-Duraiweesh said the aid came in implementation of the directives of King Abdullah to provide urgent assistance to the people of Mali affected by drought and the locusts which were destroying their agricultural crops. Saudi Ambassador to Mali Fawaz Al-Timyat thanked the King for his noble gesture. He said the Kingdom has recently provided financial assistance estimated at SR1,000,000 for Ahmed Baba Center of Islamic Manuscripts.
