The MOH assistant deputy minister for therapeutic medicine Dr. Yaqub Y. Al-Mazroo said the hosting by the Kingdom of the extraordinary meeting of the Arab health ministers, which has been decided to convene in Riyadh on Tuesday Jan 13, 2009 upon an invitation from the Saudi ministry of health, comes in line with the continuous efforts exerted by the Kingdom for providing support to the Palestinian cause and confirming its solidarity with the Palestinian people in their struggle to overcome the difficulties occurring due to the recent escalations.
He said the meeting shall be held under The "One Body Nation" moto, in line with the role played by the Kingdom in coordinating Arabic efforts, together with the international efforts, for providing every possible support to the Palestinian people. "The meeting shall review the deteriorating health and humanitarian situation in Gaza, in addition to finding ways for providing assistance to the Palestinian people", he said.
Other topics on the agenda according to Al-Mazroo include formation of an Arabic emergency committee and formulating plans for providing comprehensive medical protection to the citizens of Gaza in accordance with international agreements.
He said the meeting shall yield Riyadh Declaration, which will summarize the opinions of the Arab ministers of health on the ongoing situation in Gaza. "The declaration will provide the guidelines for the health plans and programs to be adopted for upgrading the health status in Gaza and dealing with any new circumstances which might occur as a result of the Israeli atrocities against the people in the sector", he said.
"The ministry of health welcomes our guests on behalf of the Kingdom", he said. "We hope the meeting would yield the recommendations and decisions necessary for relieving the sufferings of our palestinian brotheren", he added.