WHO and KSrelief Partner to Expand Life-Saving Health Interventions at Riyadh Humanitarian Forum 2025

August 5, 2026 Dr. Michael Lee – Health Editor Health

The World Health Organization and the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSRelief) executed multiple multi-million-dollar funding agreements on February 24-25, 2025, to combat infectious disease outbreaks and support displaced populations across the Middle East. Announced during the Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum, the partnerships direct critical capital toward malaria, cholera, and polio intervention vectors in conflict zones, addressing acute epidemiological vulnerabilities identified by international public health officials.

Key Clinical Takeaways:

  • WHO and KSRelief finalized a US$ 12 million allocation for malaria prevention and US$ 2.1 million to expand cholera treatment infrastructure in Yemen.
  • A separate US$ 3.6 million agreement between the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre and the WHO Egypt Country Office secures vital dialysis treatment for Sudanese refugees displaced by ongoing regional conflict.
  • The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its US$ 500 million commitment to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, splitting funds between WHO and UNICEF to vaccinate 370 million children annually.

Marking the 10th anniversary of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, the Riyadh summit convened international stakeholders to tackle escalating public health crises in fragile states.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia formally re-confirmed its US$ 500 million pledge to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, originally pledged in April 2024. Implementing this financial backing, two binding agreements were finalized at the forum: US$ 300 million allocated to the WHO and US$ 200 million directed to UNICEF. This funding operationalizes mass vaccination campaigns designed to reach 370 million children each year. Public health agencies have tracked recent wild poliovirus and vaccine-derived poliovirus resurgences in challenging operational environments, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Gaza.

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