KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief), under the leadership of the King of Saudi Arabia, has committed a $3 million donation to support Afghanistan’s fight against polio.
As reported by the Saudi Press Agency, KSrelief signed a $3 million agreement with the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) on Sunday to support polio eradication efforts in Afghanistan.
The agreement was signed in Riyadh by Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah, Supervisor General of KSrelief, and Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, President of the Islamic Development Bank. Under the terms of the agreement, the Saudi charity will contribute $1 million annually for the next three years.
“The agreement contributes to global initiatives targeting the eradication of polio, a disease that significantly affects individuals and communities, while also increasing awareness of its severe health consequences for children,” the Saudi new agency stated.
In a post on X, the Islamic Development Bank expressed gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its active role in this humanitarian initiative, highlighting that the kingdom’s continued support enables the organization to provide meaningful benefits to Afghanistan’s most vulnerable communities.
This funding comes as Afghanistan and its neighboring country, Pakistan, remain the only countries still grappling with polio, with a rising number of cases reported this year.
Polio is a highly infectious disease caused by poliovirus mainly affecting children under the age of five years. It invades the nervous system and can cause paralysis or even death. While there is no cure for polio, vaccination is the most effective way to protect children from this crippling disease.
Recently, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported 81 polio cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan this year, with 25 cases in Afghanistan and 56 in Pakistan.
Last year, a total of six polio cases were recorded in Afghanistan, all in the eastern region bordering Pakistan. The Taliban, who had historically hindered polio eradication efforts and killed dozens of vaccinators in the past, now face significant challenges in eradicating the disease.
