The Minister of Interior gave the Islamic Development Bank SR28.5 million to complete development projects for countries affected by the 2004 tsunami. Saed Al-Orabi Al-Harthi, an Interior Ministry advisor and head of the Saudi Relief Campaign said the funds are vital to the implementation of programs in areas affected by the Tsunami. In 2005 Saudi Arabia provided SR37 million in emergency aid to tsunami affected countries and several months later the amount was increased to SR112 million. Of the SR112 million, SR11 million was designated for reconstruction programs in the afflicted area. Specifically, $1 million has been appropriated for a number of health programs and housing projects to be implemented in collaboration with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the World Health Organization. At the 33rd Annual Meeting of the Council of Governors of the IDB in Jeddah, King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques was presented with an award thanking him for his aid to tsunami victims. More than 130,000 peoplep perished during and after the Tsunami, while at least 37,000 were declared missing. About 500,000 people were made homeless. __
