WHO and KSrelief Partner to Tackle Global Health Crises at Riyadh Humanitarian Forum 2025

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia committed US$ 500 million to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) and signed several million-dollar health agreements with the World Health Organization (WHO) during the Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum on February 24-25, 2025. These funds target polio eradication, malaria prevention, and cholera control in conflict-affected regions, according to the WHO.

The forum marked the 10th anniversary of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief). During the event, WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and KSrelief Supervisor-General Abdullah Al Rabeeah signed agreements to expand life-saving health interventions in the Middle East and beyond.

Saudi Arabia confirms US$ 500 million for polio eradication

Saudi Arabia reaffirmed a US$ 500 million pledge to the GPEI, a commitment first made in April 2024. To execute this funding, two separate agreements were signed: US$ 300 million allocated to the WHO and US$ 200 million to UNICEF, according to the GPEI.

The funding supports the annual vaccination of 370 million children worldwide. GPEI reports indicate the commitment is specifically aimed at combating polio in regions where the virus has resurged, including Gaza, Afghanistan, and Pakistan.

Funding for cholera, malaria, and dialysis in Yemen and Egypt

The WHO and KSrelief established new funding streams to address acute health crises in Yemen. According to the WHO, these agreements include US$ 12 million for malaria control and US$ 2.1 million to expand cholera treatment services.

Separate from the Yemen initiatives, KSrelief and the WHO Egypt Country Office signed a US$ 3.6 million agreement. This funding provides dialysis treatment for Sudanese refugees currently in Egypt who were displaced by the ongoing conflict in Sudan, according to the WHO.

Humanitarian health diplomacy in conflict zones

The Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum focused on health diplomacy and the security of aid workers. The event brought together global partners to discuss the dignity and well-being of people affected by crises, according to forum organizers.

The agreements signed on February 24-25 prioritize displaced populations and those in conflict-affected areas. The WHO states these partnerships are intended to ensure the survival of vulnerable populations through targeted interventions for infectious diseases and chronic kidney failure.