[Washington, DC]   --   The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today pledged 
U.S. $1 billion for the reconstruction of Iraq.  Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Saud Al-Faisal made the announcement in Madrid, Spain, at the Donors' Conference for Reconstruction of Iraq.  Of the one billion dollars, Saudi Arabia pledges to provide U.S. $ 500 million through the Saudi Development Fund, and U.S. $ 500 million through the Saudi Export Program.

This pledge is in addition to the ongoing humanitarian assistance provided by Saudi Arabia to the Iraqi people, which includes setting up a field hospital in Baghdad with over 150 medical staff.  Saudi Arabia has also set up ten water purification plants;  distributed food, medicine and supplies to the Iraqi people; and airlifted Iraqi patients to Saudi hospitals for specialized treatment.

According to Saudi Ambassador to the United States, Prince Bandar bin Sultan, “Saudi Arabia is committed to helping the Iraqi people in their hour of need. We hope that other countries will step up and provide the assistance required for Iraq to rebuild itself and assume its place of honor among the nations of the world.”

Return