On October 26, 2024, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia hosted a Donors' Conference in Jeddah aimed at supporting displaced persons and refugees in the Sahel and Lake Chad Basin. The event took place at the headquarters of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and was organized in collaboration with the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
OIC Secretary-General Hissein Ibrahim Taha emphasized Saudi Arabia's commitment to humanitarian issues and its tradition of supporting African nations. He noted the conference's objective to mobilize necessary resources to address the urgent needs of more than 11 million individuals affected by displacement in the region.
The conference focused on raising awareness of the refugee crisis, fostering partnerships for long-term solutions, and intensifying diplomatic efforts to prevent further crises. A high-level session included contributions from key figures such as Dr. Abdullah Al Rabeeah from the King Salman Center and UN officials.
Ministers from Sahel and Lake Chad Basin countries provided insights into the humanitarian situations in their nations, detailing the resources required to tackle these challenges. The conference concluded with gratitude expressed towards Saudi Arabia for its support and the collaborative efforts of various international agencies.