SAUDI ARABIA: Unlike Qatar, Iran and Jordan, kingdom fails to cough up Haiti cash

 

Oil-rich Saudi Arabia is one of the world's wealthiest countries. But though it's generous when it comes to building Islamic religious schools and mosques throughout the world, Saudi Arabia has been rather miserly when it comes to the suffering of the people of Haiti, which was struck by a cataclysmic earthquake that  destroyed its capital and killed tens of thousands. 

Certainly, Haiti is a world away from Saudi Arabia. And it's a mostly Christian country, rather than Muslim. But that hasn't stopped other wealthy Middle East countries from pitching in.

The United Arab Emirates, for example, has launched an air bridge for getting relief supplies to Haiti. Qatar has dispatched 50 metric tons of aid to Haiti, and Kuwait has made an initial pledge of $1 million, as has Morocco. 

Earthquake-prone Turkey and Iran also are helping. Ankara has dispatched a mobile hospital to Haiti and  Tehran has donated 30 metric tons of aid.

Even some poorer Middle East countries are helping out. Jordan has sent a planeload of supplies while Lebanon has committed to taking part in relief efforts. Israel has dispatched medical rescue teams to Haiti.

Saudi King Abdullah, meanwhile, has sent a message of condolence to Haitian President René Préval.

-- Los Angeles Times

Photo: A boy watches a passing helicopter as Haitians line up to receive high-protein biscuits being handed out by the World Food Program with the assistance of United Nations troops.  Credit: Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[kHAILD]

you guys should apology to us and to all Saudi , these poor texts are promoting the hatred . in this link , it is from the official Saudi newsletter , Saudi Arabia has donate more than 50 millions dollar for Haiti

[kHAILD]

HAY GUYS !! Saudi Arabia donated 50 million dollars , HERE IS THE SOURSE TO PROOF WHAT I SAID :

http://www.alriyadh.com/2010/01/26/article492952.html

YOU GUYS JUST HATE US FOR NO REASON ? IS IT BECAUSE WE ARE MUSLIMS ? WHEN DO WILL STOP YOUR HATING AND YOUR RACIST TEXTS?

[Bad11]

you people are crazy...these people have nothing, they would have appreciated getting just a dollar, it seems as though you people are looking at the picture upside down, you don't critisize how much or how long it took them to donate, you appreciate and say alhamdulillah for getting a cent. I swear its ridiculous the things that people have to look for and talk about to make muslims or Saudia Arabia in particular try and look bad. They didn't have to help at all and they did. Thats all that matters, instead of you people worrying about their actions you should go out in the street and ask for more money to be donated if it really matters to you.

[Joseph]

Check your facts, Saudi Arabia donated 50 million dollars you idiots

[Arab woman]

I second that, Tiget. and you too aziziego, great you stood up for your country!!

some haters, like this one here
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,583461,00.html
CAN'T wait to hate on Muslim countries!! i find it very offensive to the residents of Saudi arabia who DONATED TO HAITI before their government did!!!
it's like the US residents donate to haiti, and the US government doesn't, then some hater comes and puts all nation in the same basket!!
stop hating us muslims and arabs,, enough already!!
we cried for haiti just like we do for every victims, but you just choose to think we're insensitive. as it's much easier to cope with than admitting we're as human as you, if not moreso.

A.

[NEIL FEUER]

BUY AMERICAN DRILLED OIL FIRST, E.G. HESS, SUNOCO, VALERO, ETC.STOP THIS POLITICAL POLITENESS TO SAUDI ARABIA AND CALL IT WHAT IT IS, THEY WANT TO DESTROY US, ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, THEY ARE BEHIND AND HELPING THE TERRORISTS, WE ALL KNOW THAT, STARVE THEM, DO NOT SUPPORT THEM.
I BELIEVE ALL THE 9/11 TERRORISTS WERE FROM SAUDI ARABIA, WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED.
AMERICA MUST BE ENERGY INDEPENDENT AND SHOW THE WORLD THAT WE ARE A SUPERPOWER AND SHOW THEM WE HAVE THE MUSCLE BEHIND US IN NO UNCERTAIN WORDS OR ACTIONS. WE ARE AMERICANS.

[Tiget]

So here it finally comes: Saudi: Government donates $50 million to Haiti
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/25/AR2010012501150.html

That was what I said in my first comment - just be patient and the donation will come - but Mr. Smart Guy (Marks) jumps all over the place and started projecting his political agenda...

[oohdeem]

Saudis donate $500M to UN food program

http://www.canada.co​m/ottawacitizen/news/sto​ry.html?id=6e6853be-45d8​-4b99-a635-7dbb0d9ce221

and today they announced that they will donate Haiti 100 Million $

[efe yavuz]

according to the link I posted earlier, Saudi Arabia is the largest donor in terms of percentage of GDP to Humanitarian Appeal , which is an organization under the UN. So, the UN will take care of spending the money. So, a big portion of the aids sent to Haiti last week by the Humanitarian Appeal was originally donated by Saudi Arabia ...

[aziziego]

@ human,

"they only help terror group, see Yeman" !!!!!!!!!!

are u serious ??? do u read news at all ??? Saudi Arabia is now at war at the borders against a Yemeni terrorist group called Houthis ....

btw, according to the link I posted earlier, Saudi Arabia is the largest donor in terms of percentage of GDP to Humanitarian Appeal , which is an organization under the UN. So, the UN will take care of spending the money. So, a big portion of the aids sent to Haiti last week by the Humanitarian Appeal was originally donated by Saudi Arabia ...

[Hassan]

"they only help terror group, see Yeman"

Terror groups in your opinion could well be heroes in anothers.

Saudi Arabia is fighting a war against terrorists that threatens their countries, why would they fight any other countries war? Just like Pakistan.

Saudi Arabia has every fight to blitz Yemen areas, it is a war not a skirmish.

[human]

they only help terror group, see Yeman

[Aziziego]

read this article before criticizing Saudi Arabia

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/278365,extra-saudi-arabia-lead-humanitarian-donor-us-lags-behind.html

[Hassan]

"the last thing I personally want to speak about is policalisation about charity giving"

Your whole comment is hypocritical , the last thing you want to do is politicalise it but you clearly did. If you didn't want to polticalise it you wouldn't have commented. My point about Hamas was to emphasize the fact that it wasn't mentioned in the article yet the people of Gaza are trying to help the people of Haiti. It doesn't matter if aid is politicalised it is the point of sending it.

"Iranian govt felt it was better to die than accept Zionist aid" might I make it clear that it isn't only Iran who doesn't accept aid (be it money or doctors) from Israel, Pakistan doesn't neither they only accept it through a third party which they still disliked. It doesn't matter if they accepted aid from Israel, people would have died anyway, the liberals of Iran who say people died because they didn't accept Israel aid are just politicalising the situation.

And about Cuba, do not critise their doctors, they did a brilliant job in Pakistan during their earthquake, so good that Pakistan and Cuba actually established ties afterwards.

[Joeseph]

"M A" according to the Wiki sight you provided, Saudi Arabia has "pledged" $90B since 1973, but they have rarely funded any of their pledges... I can say I'm going to give a lot to a charity, but if I don't actually hand them the money, I have helped no one. Get it?

[simon (from London)]

about the palestinians and boy, the last thing I personally want to speak about is policalisation about charity giving. but excuse me Hasan, our friendly palestinians and to be more bluntly that wonderful hamas movement of theirs, have i'm sorry to say, politicized their contribrution, likening the Haitian suffering to the Palestinian.. can't help themselves really and hence just another insightful insight into Palestinian/Jihadist/Palestinian-Arabism Islam-Politics.. Giving should be done and not acknowledged from the givers that's the first rule of the thumb for a country wanting to become part of the world's community as we know and more or less abide by.

[Omolo Rao]

This is not surprising.. This is a nation of people of feel nothing and live in their own cocoon. Kenyan domestic workers are known to suffer terribly when employed in Saudi with a recent returnee having been thrown out of the window and suffered broken limbs. Did they donate to the Tsunami victims? Mmmmmh I wonder. Like said, Palestinians live in camps yet they can all be taken in to Saudi Arabia, educated and made to feel human again. Gaza people are also assisting the victims even as they are victims themselves. God bless them

[Barry]

Interesting about tyrannical Arab regimes "pledging" and "promising" while others actually do things. They always pledge billions to Palestinians and deliver next to nothing. Cuba evacuated its "advisors" and "Doctors" fearing more earthquakes. Venezuela is raising a stink and has done next to nothing to actually help.
During the Iran earthquake of many years ago, they accepted US aid as "poison" and barred Israeli teams skilled at rescues. A UN guy said people died who could have been saved; but Iranian govt felt it was better to die than accept Zionist aid.
This is the face of evil and terror while decent humane nations like the US, France, Iceland, Ireland and Israel hit boots on the ground.

[Hassan]

Might I also point out that no-where have you mentioned GAZA thats right GAZA ruled by HAMAS has been collecting food, money and medicine to help the people of Haiti.

If you don't believe me look it up.

[Hassan]

"ruining the city of Mecca" with a name like Ricky it would be better if you do not comment on what is good for the holy city of Islam.

Saudi Arabia will (hopefully) send aid, give it time. At the moment Haiti doesn't need money they need medical experts, food and water. Money is the second stage once the rebuilding begins.

It is up to each individual country if they want to give aid, the world cannot force other countries to give it.

Silly article which is probably funded by AIPAC, seeing as they clearly point out as if Israel has done something better than all the other Muslim countries.