By P.K. ABDUL GHAFOUR | ARAB NEWS

JEDDAH: Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah launched the national fundraising campaign for famine-hit Somalis by donating SR20 million. The telethon collected nearly SR100 million as of early Tuesday. The telethon has been extended to another day.

A child puts his donation in a box during the campaign in Jeddah. (AN photo by Salman Marzouki)

Crown Prince Sultan, deputy premier and minister of defense and aviation, gave SR10 million to the fund while Second Deputy Premier and Minister of Interior Prince Naif donated SR5 million.

Petrochemical giant Saudi Basic Industries Corp. (SABIC) said it would be giving SR5 million. Prince Saud bin Abdullah Thunayan, chairman of SABIC, said the donation came within the framework of the company’s social responsibility.

The UN World Food Program, meanwhile, said it received a generous Saudi donation of $50 million to help save Somali children and said the amount would be used to feed more than half a million children suffering from malnutrition in the East African country.

In a statement on the occasion of the telethon, Prince Naif urged Saudi businessmen, banks, businesses and philanthropists to donate generously to the people of Somalia, who are suffering from the worst famine and drought in 60 years.

“The condition of the Somali people is very bad and they need our support,” he said and urged Saudis and residents to compete with one another in helping the Somalis during the holy month when good deeds are highly rewarded. King Abdullah announced the fundraiser on Saturday.

“Inspired by the Qur’anic verses and moved by the sense of responsibility toward our brethren in Somalia … King Abdullah has instructed that Monday, Aug. 22, will be the beginning of the fundraiser,” a Royal Court announcement said.