Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Monday, May 12, 2025

Riyadh humanitarian forum spearheads innovation, use of AI in disaster response

Riyadh humanitarian forum spearheads innovation, use of AI in disaster response

The Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum has concluded with recommendations on minimizing funding gaps in relief aid and utilizing science and innovation for quicker response and coordination.

The third edition of the forum was organized by the King Salman Center for Relief and Humanitarian Aid (KSrelief) in partnership with the UN and its humanitarian organizations. Held in the Saudi capital on Monday and Tuesday it was attended by hundreds of international leaders, donors, researchers and aid groups.

Among the speakers were Saudi government officials, including Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Adel Al-Jubeir and Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel, as well as top UN and EU officials such as UN aid chief Martin Griffiths, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic, OCHA Humanitarian Financing Director Lisa Doughten, WHO Environment Director Maria Neira and Maimunah Mohd Sharif, executive director of the UN Human Settlements Program.

Among the forum’s speakers were Saudi government officials, including Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan.


The conference aimed at strengthening dialogue and communication between aid actors, and finding innovative solutions to streamline response, including by adopting technology and digital transformation to serve humanitarian work.

KSrelief Supervisor General Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah told Arab News in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the forum that one of the main takeaways of the meetings was thorough discussions on minimizing the “big gap” between needs and funding, and proactive response as the number of natural and human-made disasters had been on the rise.

“We have seen an increasing number of conflicts, disasters and earthquakes, so we have to improve our response and be quicker in terms of response. Coordination remains an issue, especially when there is an emergency response and this is an area that has been also discussed — how we can be more coordinated than ever,” he said.

Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum has concluded with recommendations on minimizing funding gaps in relief aid and utilizing science and innovation for quicker response and coordination.


“One of the important issues discussed is how can we utilize research, science, digitalization and artificial intelligence in data collection and also prioritization and coordination. These are the top issues that have been really discussed heavily.”

At the end of the forum, the participants agreed on adopting a series of recommendations to further collective efforts in the fields of partnership, assessment, anticipatory action and achieving the UN’s sustainable development goals through a humanitarian, developmental and peace nexus.

Among the key recommended actions was assessing humanitarian needs and monitoring interventions by using “innovative technologies, researched and evidence-based approaches, data collection mechanisms and big data analytics.”

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan speaks at the Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum.


The use of the newest technologies, like AI, in supporting response is a new area of humanitarian work, and the Riyadh forum was one of the first international meetings to highlight the need for it.

“The necessity for humanitarian aid and the urgency in having an efficient process with adequate data is becoming paramount, as was clearly stated in the humanitarian forum that KSrelief led these two days and included in its recommendations for future action plans,” Marita Kassis, political analyst and media expert on the Middle East, told Arab News on the sidelines of the conference.

“AI is the future, and today is taking the world by storm, with governments and world leaders trying to incorporate it in most sectors.

“Between wars and natural disasters, there is no shortage of catastrophes to attend to. AI can play a vital part in streamlining these humanitarian efforts and efficiently instill a process of coordination that will list needs, delivery and transparency,” Kassis said.

Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum has concluded with recommendations on minimizing funding gaps in relief aid and utilizing science and innovation for quicker response and coordination.


Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
India and Pakistan Agreement on Ceasefire Amid Ongoing Tensions
Trump's Upcoming Middle East Trip Excludes Israel, Raising Concerns Among Israeli Officials
Trump's Upcoming Visit to Gulf Nations: Investment and Security at the Forefront
Cardinal Robert Prevost Elected as Pope Leo XIV, Marking a Historic Papacy
India-Pakistan conflict may be first test for Chinese military tech
Common Sense Returns to Britain's Legal System: UK Supreme Court Declares a Woman Is… a Woman
Warren Buffett to Step Down as Berkshire CEO After Nearly 60 Years
Trump Shares AI-Generated Image of Himself as… Pope, Prompting Outrage Reaction
Amazon Launches Satellite Internet Service Amidst Competition with SpaceX
Trump Administration Removes National Security Adviser Mike Waltz Amid Signal Chat Controversy
Massive Explosion at Iran's Bandar Abbas Port Linked to Suspicious Chemical Shipments
Pope Francis Laid to Rest in Rome as World Leaders Attend Funeral
Not Child’s Play: How Competitive Gaming Became a Global Economic Empire
California Surpasses Japan to Become the World’s Fourth-Largest Economy
Former U.S. Congressman George Santos sentenced to eighty-seven months for wide-ranging fraud
Israel Considers Limited Strikes on Iran's Nuclear Facilities Amid Diplomatic Efforts
Saudi Arabia Offers Max Verstappen Unprecedented Deal to Join Aston Martin
Global Pistachio Shortage Amid Rising Demand for 'Dubai Chocolate'
IMF Predicts No Global Recession Amid Trade Tensions
Removing the Political Rival Means Diminishing What's Remaining of Turkey's Economy
White House Investigates Security Breach After Journalist Accidentally Added to Secret Yemen Strike Chat
UAE Pledges $1.4 Trillion Investment Strategy in the United States
Revealing the Electromagnetic Characteristics of the Great Pyramid of Giza
Netanyahu Dismisses Shin Bet Chief Amid 'Loss of Trust' and 'Qatargate' Corruption Investigations Involving Netanyahu's Advisors
U.S. Approves $100 Million Precision Rocket Sale to Saudi Arabia Amid Ongoing Yemen Conflict
High-ranking ISIS Official Neutralized in Collaborative Operation in Iraq
Netanyahu Rejects UN Reports on Gaza as 'Untrue'
Six Americans Freed from Detention in Kuwait
Syria Wraps Up Military Campaign Amid Extensive Violence and Large-Scale Killings.
Trump Speaks Out on the Arrest of Pro-Palestinian Student at Columbia University
Demonstrations Break Out as Individual Ascends Big Ben with Palestinian Flag
Over 300,000 Refugees Expected to Return to Syria Amid Ongoing Crisis
Trump Urges Nuclear Talks with Iran as Tensions Escalate
US Launches AI Initiative to Track Foreign Nationals' Social Media for Terrorist Support.
US Initiates Direct Discussions with Hamas During Hostage Situation
US Government Dismisses Arab Leaders' Plan for Gaza Reconstruction
US Engages in Unprecedented Covert Talks with Hamas Regarding Hostages
Arab Leaders Approve $53 Billion Initiative for Gaza Reconstruction
Iran's Enriched Uranium Stockpile Reaches Levels for Six Nuclear Devices
Israel Indicates Willingness to Resume Military Operations in Gaza
Hamas Lets Go of Last Israeli Hostage as Part of Ceasefire Deal
Trump Adjusts Gaza Resettlement Plan Following Rejections from Regional Leaders
The negotiation teams of Trump and Putin meet directly, establishing the groundwork for a significant advance.
Israeli Minister Urges Hamas to Surrender and Depart from Gaza.
Iran Considers Moving Its Capital Due to Urban Difficulties
Israel and Hamas Finalize Sixth Exchange of Hostages and Prisoners During Continuing Gaza Ceasefire
Leaders of BRICS to Gather in Rio de Janeiro for July Summit
Muhsin Hendricks, a trailblazing openly gay imam, was killed in South Africa.
Trump's special envoy for hostage affairs cautions Hamas against challenging Trump before Saturday's deadline.
Two British citizens apprehended in Iran amid escalating tensions.
×