Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz has ordered that SR13,125,000 [just over U.S. $3.5 million] be appropriated for implementing a number of development projects in earthquake and tsunami stricken countries in southern Asia. Dr. Saeed Al-Orabi Al-Harithi, Advisor to the Interior Minister and head of the Saudi relief aid campaign, today confirmed that a Saudi relief team is currently visiting the region to assess the situation, estimate the requirements, and propose mechanisms for their implementation. So far, Saudi Arabia has airlifted, in 14 flights, over 1,000 tons of relief assistance, valued at $5 million. Meanwhile, Saudi donations are still pouring in subsequent to the recent telethon, which in one night, generated over $80 million.

Meanwhile, the Saudi relief delegation, led by Chairman of the Saudi Red Crescent Society Dr  Abdulrahman Al-Suwailim, arrived in Colombo on Saturday evening. The visit has the purpose of estimating the requirements of the people suffering from the results of the earthquake and tsunami that hit southern Asia.

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