Saudis Donate Generously to Tsunami Fund Through Telethon

JEDDAH, 8 January 2005 — Saudis responded enthusiastically to a telethon staged to raise money for victims of the Asian tsunami disaster, donating more than SR300 million ($82 million). The Saudi leadership gave SR35 million at the telethon which lasted from Thursday afternoon until the early hours of yesterday.

The Kingdom had earlier pledged $30 million to assist the victims of the earthquake and tsunami that ravaged large areas of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, India and Maldives with the tidal wave striking as far away as the coast of Somalia.

Prince Alwaleed ibn Talal, chairman of Kingdom Holding Company, announced an SR70 million ($19 million) donation to the telethon organized by Saudi Arabian Television and carried live by Channel One and Channel Two. A number of Arab satellite stations also joined in airing the telethon.

The contribution of Prince Alwaleed comprised $4 million in cash, with the remaining amount including one million worth of clothes and 10,000 tents, the Kingdom Holding Company said in a statement.

“Our donation is to ease the suffering of our brothers and sisters in South Asia. We believe that humanitarian aid is a responsibility shared by all and transcends religion, race and geographic boundaries,” the statement said.

The construction company, Saudi Oger, owned by former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Al-Hariri, pledged $6.7 million.

As part of the telethon Saudi Aramco made a corporate donation of $2 million, the company announced yesterday.

Abdallah S. Jum’ah said in a statement that the donation was part of Saudi Aramco’s tradition of social responsibility.

“The Saudi Aramco family is deeply saddened by this tragic event, as it has destroyed the lives of so many fellow humans, and the challenges faced by the survivors touch us all,” Jum’ah said. “Our prayers are with those who lost their loved ones in this tragedy, as well as with those who were injured or lost their homes. May God ease the heavy burden on the victims and their families, and may He grant them the power of patience to cope with the difficult days ahead.”

Whole families came out to donate. Long queues could be seen outside donation centers with people waiting in the cold to give something to help the victims. Goods ranging from crates of fruits and sacks of rice to luxury cars and wide-bodied passenger buses were brought to the donation centers in all major cities.

An Indonesian worker in Dammam in the Eastern Province gave away half of his monthly wage to help his fellow citizens back home. A large number of the donors were schoolchildren who gave their pocket money to help the affected Asian children. A small child brought a number of air balloons saying he saw people drowning under the massive wave and wanted to help by providing something to help others swim to safety.

A group of Muslim scholars sat in the television studios inviting viewers to donate, saying that giving aid is one of the pillars of Islam.