The Arab health ministers shall gather in Riyadh on Tuesday Jan 13, 2009 on an extraordinary meeting. "The approval of the Royal Court for hosting the meeting has been announced", said the Minister of Health and Head of the Executive Council of the Arab Ministers of Health Dr. Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Mane.
He said the meeting shall look into the deteriorating health and humanitarian situation in Gaza as well as the ways for providing medical service to the Palestinians. Other issues on the agenda include formation of an Arab health committee for emergencies and the ways for providing health protection for the citizens of Gaza in accordance with international agreements.
Saudi Arabia has been one of the first countries to provide support to the Palestinian people in their current crisis. It is dispatching, upon directives of the High Court, daily medical flights to the region, in addition to transference of injured people for treatment in the Kingdom. The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques has issued a directive for launching a public campaign under direct supervision of the Minister of Defense HRH Prince Naif bin Abdul Aziz for collecting donations for the Palestinian people.