Khaberni - The parliamentary financial committee, chaired by MP Nimer Al-Sulihat, discussed today, Tuesday, the budget of the Ministry of Social Development and the National Aid Fund for 2026, in the presence of the Minister of Social Development and chairperson of the fund's board, Wafa Bani Mustafa.
Al-Sulihat requested that the committee be informed about the number of shelters, their classifications, and the services of the ministry, as well as the number of licensed charities and the mechanisms of oversight over them, in addition to the ministry's plans to combat begging and support programs for poor families.
He called for providing the committee with data on the National Aid Fund's benefit programs, the number of beneficiaries, and the number of applicants who meet the conditions but have not been included in the programs, along with clarifying the mechanism for the disbursement of urgent aid to needy families, and to review the items allocated for protection and social care programs, the support of associations, and the empowerment of the neediest families.
Members of the financial committee presented several observations and suggestions related to the work of the ministry and the fund, especially considering the nature of the beneficiaries, such as orphans, people with disabilities, the elderly, and various humanitarian cases.
They praised the efforts of the ministry and the fund in implementing the 2025 budget items, which has a direct impact on the programs and services provided to citizens.
For her part, Bani Mustafa reviewed the vision and plans of the ministry and the fund for the coming years as part of the national strategy for social protection 2025–2033, emphasizing the ministry's commitment to developing shelter and care services for orphans, those without family support, and people with disabilities, in addition to the supervision and monitoring of homes for the elderly.
She explained that there are no government-run homes for the elderly in the kingdom, and that the existing homes are voluntary and private, and the ministry purchases housing services for those financially unable.
Bani Mustafa revealed that 30,000 new families will enter the monthly aid program during the years 2024 and 2025, in addition to the fund providing emergency aid to benefiting and non-benefiting families according to their urgent circumstances.
She noted that work is ongoing to classify charities to improve their operation and enhance their role as a key partner to the ministry in the field, affirming the importance of improving their operational mechanisms and enabling them to perform their role optimally.
