JEDDAH: Fourteen civilians were injured on Thursday by missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthi group into Saudi Arabia, Saudi Civil Defense reported.
SPA quoted a Civil Defense spokesman as saying that 13 Saudi citizens and an expatriate from Bangladesh were injured in the attack in Dhahran Al-Janoub province in Asir region.
The victims suffered various injuries and were taken to hospital for treatment, said Civil Defense spokesman Col. Mohammed Al-Assemi.
Three houses were also damaged in the attack, he said.
Saudi Arabia is leading an Arab coalition trying to restore President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi who was ousted by the Iran-aligned Houthi group last year.
King Salman Humanitarian and Relief Aid Center (KSRELIEF), meanwhile, signed a contract with Bureihi Hospital in Taiz to extend the provision of medical services.
Under Wednesday’s contract, 150 wounded people will receive treatment and medical services including surgical operations inside Taiz.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, Saudi Royal Court adviser and general supervisor of KSRELIEF, and Dr. Najeeb Al-Bureihi of the hospital signed the deal in the presence of Dr. Nasser Ba’oom, minister of public health and population and member of the Higher Committee for Relief in Yemen.
KSRELIEF supports hospitals and health sectors in Yemen through providing medical and health services, Al-Rabeeah said.
He said that KSRELIEF’s operations are in line with the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman to provide care for the Yemeni people and to fulfill their needs.
This is an extension of the efforts provided by the center through providing medical care for Yemeni brothers and supporting the health sector in coordination with the Higher Relief Committee, he added.
The center carries out a number of programs for the treatement of injured Yemenis with the support of the Yemeni Ministry of Health and Population and international organizations.
The Yemeni minister has thanked King Salman, the government and the people for supporting the Yemeni people.
He stressed that the King Salman Humanitarian and Relief Aid Center was the first relief group to break the Taiz siege and to deliver food aid and medical supplies to the city.
More than half of war-battered Yemen’s hospitals and clinics are closed or only partially functioning, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Monday, warning a lack of adequate health services was increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.
Only 45 percent of 3,507 health facilities surveyed by WHO were fully functional and accessible, while more than 40 percent of districts faced a “critical” shortage of doctors, WHO said.
“These critical shortages in health services mean that more people are deprived of access to life-saving interventions,” WHO said in a statement.
“Absence of adequate communicable diseases management increases the risk of outbreaks such cholera, measles, malaria and other endemic diseases.”
UNICEF says the humanitarian disaster in the country has left 7.4 million children in need of medical help and 370,000 at risk of severe acute malnutrition.
Yemen’s Health Ministry announced a cholera outbreak in early October in the capital Sanaa. By the end of the month, WHO said the number of suspected cholera cases had ballooned to more than 1,400.
In 42 percent of 276 districts surveyed by WHO there were only two doctors or less, while in nearly a fifth of districts there were none.
WHO said new mothers and their babies lacked essential ante-natal care and immunization services, while people suffering from acute or chronic conditions were forced to spend more on treatment or forgo treatment altogether.
14 civilians hurt in Houthi missile attack in Asir
14 civilians hurt in Houthi missile attack in Asir
Cumin has health benefits but seek medical consultation before use, says SFDA
- Herbs, like any substance with therapeutic effects, should be used with caution, the authority said
- Medical consultation is particularly recommended for those with blood clotting disorders or diabetes
RIYADH: Cumin offers notable health benefits and nutritional value, including aiding digestion and relieving gas, but it should not be used without seeking medical consultation, the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) said on Thursday.
Cumin, particularly the Cuminum cyminum species, is an aromatic spice used as a seasoning in food and extracted for its oil for perfumes, and is also a popular remedy in traditional medicine.
But the SFDA emphasized that herbs, like any substance with therapeutic effects, should be used with caution.
"Medical consultation is essential, as certain herbs may interact with medications or affect nutrient absorption," the authority said in an advisory carried by the Saudi Press Agency.
The SFDA recommended adhering to the recommended daily intake of 1.5 to 3 grams of cumin, noting that one teaspoon is equivalent to 5 grams.
Cumin may interact with blood thinners and diabetes medications, potentially mimicking their effects and leading to complications, it said.
Medical consultation is particularly recommended for individuals with blood clotting disorders or diabetes, as well as pregnant and lactating women, the SFDA said.
It warned that cumin may induce uterine contractions, increasing the risk of premature birth, and could also affect hormonal balance during pregnancy.
Cumin may also cause acid reflux or diarrhea and could influence milk production in breastfeeding mothers, potentially leading to colic or diarrhea in infants, the advisory warned.
It further recommended discontinuing cumin consumption at least two weeks before any surgical procedure, as it may increase the risk of bleeding.
Saudi Arabia condemns attacks by ‘outlaw groups’ in Syria
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has condemned the targeting of security forces and crimes by “outlaw groups” in Syria, a foreign ministry said early Friday.
“The Kingdom affirms its support for the Syrian government in its efforts to maintain security and stability and preserve civil peace,” the statement concluded.
Syrian forces were clashing with gunmen loyal to an Assad-era special forces commander in Latakia on Thursday, the province’s security director said, after authorities reportedly launched helicopter strikes.
The fighting killed 48 people on Thursday, a war monitor said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the clashes in the coastal town of Jableh and adjacent villages were “the most violent attacks against the new authorities since Assad was toppled” in December.
Pro-Assad fighters killed 16 security personnel while 28 fighters “loyal” to ousted President Bashar Assad and four civilians were also killed, it said.
The fighting struck in the Mediterranean coastal province of Latakia, the heartland of the ousted president’s Alawite minority who were considered bastions of support during his rule.
Saudi FM participates in GCC-Jordan ministerial meeting
RIYADH: Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan participated on Thursday in the seventh GCC-Jordan joint ministerial meeting of foreign ministers in Makkah, the Saudi Press Agency said.
The meeting discussed regional issues including the Palestinian cause and the efforts made to achieve regional security and stability.
It also tackled ways of boosting GCC-Jordanian relations and supporting partnerships.
The meeting was headed by Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Abdullah Al-Yahya.
Saudi-Moroccan foreign ministers co-chair 14th session of joint committee in Makkah
MAKKAH: Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Faisal bin Farhan, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita co-chaired in Makkah the 14th session of the Saudi-Moroccan Joint Committee.
The event was attended by senior officials from ministries, government agencies and private-sector institutions from both sides.
The convening of the meeting reaffirms the strong ties between the two countries and aims to boost cooperation in all areas of common interest.
Both sides appreciated the efforts of the entities involved in the committee’s work to meet the aspirations of both leaderships. They also emphasized their commitment to strengthening cooperation across various fields to further elevate their strong relations.
Crackdown on environmental offenders in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH: The Special Forces for Environmental Security in Saudi Arabia took action in three separate incidents of environmental law infringement, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The forces apprehended two citizens for environmental offences after they cut protective fencing and entered the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Reserve without proper permits. The authorities have implemented statutory procedures against the offenders and referred them to the authorities.
In a separate incident, authorities arrested a Sudanese resident for environmental offences in the Makkah region, where he was caught burning waste illegally, causing soil pollution and environmental damage. Legal measures were taken against him before referring his case to the authorities.
Authorities also intercepted a Saudi citizen transporting one cubic meter of locally harvested firewood in the Riyadh region. Standard legal procedures were applied, and the confiscated materials were handed over to the relevant authorities.
According to official statements, penalties for cutting or damaging fences in protected areas can reach SR100,000 ($26,665), with offenders required to repair damages and pay compensation.
