Saudis defend aid provided to fleeing Syrians

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Saudi Arabia said it has taken in about 2.5 million Syrians on religious and humanitarian grounds in the years since the country’s conflict began and has offered residency to hundreds of thousands, as it sought to rebut suggestions that oil-rich Gulf states should do more to address the plight of refugees fleeing civil war.

The official Saudi Press Agency quoted an unnamed official at the Foreign Ministry as saying the kingdom does not consider those it has taken in as refugees and does not house them in camps “in order to ensure their dignity and safety.”

The kingdom had not intended to discuss its efforts to aid Syrians and “did not wish to boast about its efforts or attempt to gain media coverage,” but felt compelled to disclose some figures in light of what it called “erroneous and misleading information,” according to the report.

The Gulf Arab nations, key backers of rebels fighting to topple Syrian President Bashar Assad, have come under fire over their response to the crisis in recent weeks as Syrian refugees and other migrants have streamed into the European Union, provoking a backlash in some member states.