Saudis collect funds for Syrian people

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, July 24 (UPI) -- A Saudi Arabian donation campaign to aid the people of Syria reached $32.4 million Tuesday, officials said.

The Saudi National Campaign for the Support of Brothers in Syria is the initiative of Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz, who donated some $5.3 million to the cause at the start, al-Arabiya said Tuesday. Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz donated approximately $2.6 million and called on all Saudis to participate, the network said.

Prince Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz, the Saudi interior minister, said Tuesday the campaign will run through Friday.

At a meeting in Doha, Qatar, Monday the Arab League pledged $100 million in aid for Syrian refugees, the Kuwaiti news agency Kuna said.

The Saudi cabinet has criticized the escalation in violence by the Syrian regime, saying it violates all Arab and international commitments, al-Arabiya said.