Wednesday, 16 September 2015

Saudi syrians

Moved this morning to put 'saudi arabia syrian refugees' into google. From which I learn the following.

Saudi Arabia has taken 100,000 Syrian refugees. Don't know where or when.

It has maybe 500,000 Syrian residents in all.

It has given $700 million in aid. Don't know where or when.

It has also offered to help build 200 mosques in Germany.

It also has huge, fully equipped tent cities, used a few days a year for the annual pilgrimage. No plans to use them for refugees.

None of the Gulf States sign up to the UN convention on refugees.

From elsewhere, I find that the population of Saudi Arabia is around 30 million. A substantial country, maybe half the size by population as the UK. A quarter the size by GDP (I had thought it more than that, but that is what google says, confirmed by my trusty 'Economist' book of important facts). But no tiddler, unable to cope or to play its part.

So not great, but better than I had realised.

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