President of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council Visits KSrelief to Witness the Launch of New Humanitarian Projects and Volunteer Programs in Yemen
President of the Presidential Leadership Council of the Republic of Yemen Dr. Rashad Al-Alimi and his accompanying delegation visited the headquarters of the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) on Tuesday in Riyadh.
They were received by Royal Court Advisor and KSrelief Supervisor General Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah, in the presence of Saudi Ambassador to Yemen and Supervisor of the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) Mohammed bin Saeed Al Jaber, Yemen’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Salem Saleh bin Breik, representatives of UN organizations and a number of KSrelief officials.
Al-Alimi expressed the Yemeni people’s appreciation and gratitude to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, for the valuable humanitarian assistance provided to Yemen through the KSrelief and the SDRPY.
He said the assistance has reached various regions and governorates and all segments of Yemeni society without discrimination, noting that these noble Saudi gestures would remain etched in the memory of generations of Yemenis.
Al-Alimi praised the Masam Project for clearing Yemeni territory of landmines, which was awarded Yemen’s highest honors in recognition of its major efforts to restore life and eliminate the deadly mines planted by the Houthi militia.
He noted that KSrelief had become a source of pride for Saudi Arabia and the world, with its assistance reaching all countries in need and those affected by crises.
For his part, Al Rabeeah welcomed Al-Alimi’s visit to the KSrelief headquarters, the humanitarian arm of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
He noted that, with the support and guidance of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince, KSrelief has reached 113 countries and implemented 4,525 projects.
Al Rabeeah said Yemen has always been and remains KSrelief’s top priority in its efforts to alleviate the humanitarian suffering of the Yemeni people, noting that KSrelief has implemented 1,238 projects in Yemen, with a budget exceeding $4.8 billion, in cooperation with 362 UN, international and local organizations.
He indicated that Saudi Arabia has been the leading country in providing support to the Yemeni people over the past 10 years. The Kingdom’s diverse assistance over the decade has exceeded $29 billion, with KSrelief providing aid without discrimination between Yemen’s regions and governorates or among segments of its population, Al Rabeeah noted.
“With the launch of Operation Dawn of Yemen to restore the Yemeni state, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and HRH the Crown Prince directed KSrelief to increase humanitarian support to all parts of Yemen, particularly displacement areas and those most in need. Today, we are launching a new package of humanitarian and charitable projects for the Yemeni people,” Al Rabeeah said.
He stressed that humanitarian work in Yemen faces major challenges due to the Houthi militia's intransigence, which has blocked access, detained humanitarian workers, particularly UN staff, and targeted aid. The brotherly Yemeni people have not been spared these attacks, especially women and children, he said.
He called on the UN and the international community to put an end to these violations, which have made Yemen one of the countries most in need of humanitarian assistance and left its people in dire humanitarian conditions. He also urged the UN and the international community to pressure the Houthi militia to open humanitarian corridors to deliver aid to the Yemeni people in Taiz.
Al-Alimi then watched a video presentation showcasing Saudi Arabia’s assistance to 175 countries, valued at more than $145 billion. This included KSrelief’s work, which comprised 4,525 projects in 113 countries worldwide, worth more than $8.638 billion and covering various humanitarian aid sectors.
Yemen was among the leading beneficiary countries, with 1,238 projects implemented at a cost exceeding $4.821 billion. These projects covered education, health, food security and other sectors. They also included specialized initiatives, such as 568 projects dedicated to women, valued at more than $585 million, and 559 projects dedicated to children, worth more than $806 million.
Other initiatives included the Reintegration of Children Formerly Associated with Armed Conflict (CFAAC) Project, KSrelief’s Masam Project for clearing Yemeni territory of landmines, and the Saudi Prosthetics and Rehabilitation Project.
Al-Alimi then held a meeting with Al Rabeeah to discuss matters of mutual interest related to humanitarian and relief efforts in Yemen and ways to strengthen them.
Al-Alimi subsequently witnessed the launch of diverse relief and humanitarian projects, along with 100 volunteer programs to be implemented by KSrelief in Yemen in the coming period.
The projects launched included an emergency response project to distribute 250,000 food baskets across Yemen, comprising 500,000 cartons; the sixth phase of the emergency shelter plan to distribute 25,000 shelter kits and 17,500 tents; an emergency response project to provide drinking water to displaced people in Lahj Governorate, supplying 2.9 million liters; an emergency water, sanitation and hygiene project for displaced people in Lahj, supplying 5.3 million liters; a project to supply 4.7 million liters of safe drinking water to displaced people in Taiz Governorate; and another project to provide 3.78 million liters of safe drinking water to displaced people in Aden Governorate.
The launch also included an emergency relief project to distribute 5,000 food baskets and 9,960 tins of infant formula, and provide essential medicines and medical supplies in Taiz city; a medical project to supply medicines, medical supplies and equipment to Yemen’s Ministry of Health; and a residential complex for displaced people in Hajjah Governorate, comprising 232 homes equipped with solar power, along with public service facilities.
The total number of beneficiaries of these projects reached 3,435,000 people.
Moreover, Al-Alimi witnessed the launch of 100 Saudi volunteer programs across Yemen’s governorates, expected to benefit 265,000 people.
These included the "Saudi Pulse" volunteer program for open-heart surgery and cardiac catheterization, the “Saudi Noor” volunteer program to combat blindness, the “Saudi Hearing” volunteer program for cochlear implantation and hearing rehabilitation, the Saudi Volunteer Program for Specialized Surgery, and the Saudi program for training, education and economic empowerment.
Al-Alimi then toured the offices of KSrelief’s partner organizations and international agencies, accompanied by Al Rabeeah. Representatives of the organizations briefed him on the nature of their joint work with KSrelief.