Riyadh, January 12, SPA -- Dr. Hamad Abdullah Al-Manae, Minister of Health who is also Chairman of the Executive Bureau of the Arab Health Ministers Council, will open tomorrow the emergency meeting of Arab health ministers to be hosted by Riyadh.
In a press conference held here today, the Health Minister expressed thanks to and appreciation of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and his Crown Prince for hosting the conference, crystallizing the leading role of Saudi Arabia in serving the Islamic and Arab causes.
Dr. Al-Manae welcomed the Arab health ministers and all participants in the conference in their second homeland, wishing them continuous success.
He stated that the meeting aims at drawing up clear organizational and working mechanisms to ensure delivery of the urgent medical relief and therapeutic aid to injured Palestinians suffering from the Israeli attacks on Gaza Strip, relieve the aggravating humanitarian and health tragedy, secure health and safety of the Palestinian civilians against Israeli military shelling, and re-build and qualify the medical infrastructure in Gaza including hospitals, medical centers, supplies and medicines.
At the Arab level, the meeting aims at exploring some proposals, mainly forming an Arab health emergency committee that could interfere and work in any Arab country that happen to have a humanitarian situation.
"Everybody knows that Saudi Arabia plays a major role in supporting the Palestinian cause. Since the time of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud until now, Saudi leaders have taken glorious positions in support of and promoting the Palestinian authority. Palestinian people feel gratitude and appreciation for Saudi supporting positions in regional and international forums. Saudi moral, political and financial support for the Palestinian authority has always been instrumental in meeting its national and political obligations", the Health Minister said.
"As for the current humanitarian crisis, Saudi aid started in the first day of the outrageous Israeli aggression against Gaza Strip. Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz has ordered urgent airlift to transport medicines and medical supplies, and medical evacuation aircraft to carry injured Palestinians for treatment in Saudi hospitals. Forty five crafts were operating on daily basis within the Saudi medical relief airlift. So far, the total aid amounted to 140 tons of medical supplies and medicines. Seven medevac planes equipped with efficient medical crew and ultra-modern instruments managed to transport injured Palestinians to Saudi specialist hospitals amounting to 50 injured Palestinians with their escorts", he added.
Dr. Al-Manae considered the emergency meeting of Arab health ministers to be held tomorrow as solidarity and Arab stand by Palestinians brothers in their calamity under the unfair Israeli aggression.
This effort also reflects the role that should be played by the Arab health sector in providing medical aid and exploring ways of protecting the Palestinians against frequent Israeli attacks.
He said that Saudi Arabia is not the only entity providing relief in support of the Palestinian Health Ministry. But everybody must know that Saudi medical relief efforts are pursuant to the Saudi Arabia's unchangeable position dictated by its belief, conscience and belonging to Arab and Islamic nation. Upon directives of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz and direct supervision of Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Interior, Saudi Arabia will continue its daily three-pronged medical aid to Palestinians: relief airlift, air ambulance shuttles and land supply convoys.
© Saudi Press Agency 2009
