Aid convoy for Syrian refugees leaves Riyadh 

(MENAFN - Arab News) A convoy of trucks left Riyadh for Syrian refugee camps in Jordan last night carrying the first batch of aid from a 10-day national appeal.

Saudi Arabia has led Arab diplomatic efforts to isolate the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad over his suppression of a 17-month-old rebellion against his rule.

The Kingdom has accused Assad of targeting civilians.
The Saudi Press Agency reported that the campaign, which was launched by Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah with a 5.3 million donation, had raised SR 468 million.

The 43 aid trucks assembled in a shopping mall car park in northern Riyadh before the sunset prayer, loaded with food, medicine and clothing under orange tarpaulins.

The drivers wore white T-shirts bearing the campaign logo, along with matching baseball caps.

Campaign director, Mubarak Said Al-Bakr, said dozens of volunteers were traveling with the trucks to assist in the distribution of the aid.

The trucks were marked with the slogan "Saudi Kingdom of humanity" in English and Arabic along the sides, while the cabs were decorated in more ornamental style with flags, stickers and plastic flowers.

Both citizens and expatriates supported the fund campaign both in cash and kind.

The first consignment of 43 trucks consisted of food materials and other essential things.

"An action team accompanying the convoy is coordinating with Jordanian authorities so that the convoy can enter that country without hustles. The team will supervise the distribution of the materials at different refugee camps set up for Syrians," Mubarak Al-Bakr told the Saudi Press Agency.
The campaign committee offices in Riyadh and Jeddah are still receiving donations in kind.

Saudi aid has been flowing to the needy people in various locations including Palestine, Pakistan, Somalia, Haiti and central African countries.