RIYADH: Consultations are underway to establish a $10 billion trust fund for reconstruction in strife-torn Yemen, especially in areas liberated by the Saudi-led coalition.
The proposal to establish the fund was made in response to a World Bank assessment report that estimated the cost of war damage in Yemen at more than $88 billion.
This was disclosed by Yemen’s Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Dr. Mohammed Al-Saadi on Monday. “The Yemeni government has already begun the reconstruction process in some liberated areas, including Aden,” Al-Saadi told Asharq Al-Aswat Arabic daily, a sister publication of Arab News.
“There are talks about a $10 billion credit fund and currency support … In addition to the brothers in Saudi Arabia, the World Bank would like to provide management expertise, coordination of fundraising through donors as well as permanent partners from the Gulf countries, led by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait,” he said.
The Yemeni minister added that a committee formed after talks between Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, deputy premier and minister of defense, and Yemeni President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi “will follow up and set reconstruction priorities based on the assessment by the World Bank and other local assessment reports from some war-stricken provinces.”
While describing some of the difficulties faced in the reconstruction process, mainly because of instability in some areas, Saadi stressed the determination of the Yemeni government “to revitalize its work in liberated areas in the hope of moving to successful models of reconstruction next year.”
“Saudi Arabia will be at the forefront of any such effort,” said Ibrahim Al-Qayid, founder member of the National Society of Human Rights, on Tuesday.
“The Kingdom prides itself for being on the top of the list in providing aid and assistance to Yemen. Saudi Arabia has helped in the reconstruction of liberated areas in that country, especially rebuilding damaged infrastructure and helping restore critical services such as power, water and sewage,” he added, stressing the need for collective efforts to set up the $10 billion fund.
The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) has already spent $8.2 billion on aid for Yemen since its opening in 2015, according to a report issued by KSRelief.
The center has spent around $750 million on humanitarian and relief projects in Yemen covering areas such as security, camp management, water and sanitation, nutrition, health, logistical support, telecoms and relief coordination.
The report said around 150 projects have been initiated in Yemen by KSRelief in cooperation with 86 local and international organizations.
$10bn fund proposed for Yemen’s reconstruction
$10bn fund proposed for Yemen’s reconstruction
Several arrests made in drug crackdown across Saudi Arabia
- Border Guard patrols in the Al-Raboah sector of the Asir region arrested 14 Ethiopians for smuggling 260 kg of qat
- In a separate incident, four Ethiopians were arrested for smuggling 28 kg of qat in Al-Farsha governorate
RIYADH: Saudi authorities have made numerous drug-related arrests throughout the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
Border Guard patrols in the Al-Raboah sector of the Asir region arrested 14 Ethiopians for smuggling 260 kg of qat. In a separate incident, four Ethiopians were arrested for smuggling 28 kg of qat in Al-Farsha governorate.
Security patrols in Asir also arrested a citizen with 11 kg of qat in the same governorate.
In the Al-Dayer sector of the Jazan region, authorities thwarted an attempt to smuggle 600 kg of qat. In another case, Border Guard patrols arrested an Ethiopian trying to smuggle 80 kg of qat.
The General Directorate of Mujahideen in Jazan arrested two citizens for selling hashish, while the General Directorate of Narcotics Control arrested two Pakistanis and an Indonesian in Jeddah with 1.5 kg of methamphetamine, locally known as shabu.
A citizen was also arrested in the Baha region for selling amphetamine.
Preliminary legal procedures have been completed for all individuals, and the seized narcotics have been handed over to the authorities.
The Saudi government urges anyone with information about smuggling or customs offenses to call the confidential hotline 1910, the international number +966114208417, or email 1910@zatca.gov.sa.
All information is treated with strict confidentiality. Financial rewards are offered for valid information.
KSrelief’s role in global aid efforts praised at UN donor support meeting
- The meeting was organized by the UN Pooled Fund Working Group
RIYADH: Aqeel Al-Ghamdi, assistant supervisor general for planning and development at the Saudi aid agency KSrelief and Saudi Arabia’s representative in the Donor Support Group for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, participated in a high-level meeting in Jersey, UK.
The meeting was organized by the UN Pooled Fund Working Group and attended by senior representatives from donor countries and international humanitarian organizations.
In his speech, Al-Ghamdi emphasized the need to strengthen joint action and coordination among donor countries and UN institutions to ensure equitable and effective aid access, especially for the most vulnerable.
According to the Saudi Press Agency, the meeting was a key milestone in global efforts to improve financing mechanisms and responses to humanitarian needs.
Al-Ghamdi reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s commitment, under the leadership of King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, to continue supporting global humanitarian efforts, helping to protect lives and improve living conditions in affected communities.
He noted that the Kingdom is among the world’s largest humanitarian donors and has led significant initiatives through KSrelief in recent years. These efforts have reached more than 100 countries and were implemented in partnership with UN agencies and international organizations.
At the meeting’s conclusion, participants praised Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role in humanitarian support and stressed the need to sustain international momentum for effective and lasting impact.
Since its launch in May 2015, KSrelief has implemented 3,438 projects worth more than $7.9 billion in 107 countries, in collaboration with at least 318 organizations.
These programs cover food security, early recovery, water, sanitation and hygiene, health, camp coordination, education, protection, emergency aid, logistics, telecommunications, and nutrition.
Historic Qur’an texts displayed at Grand Mosque
- Event highlights the Qur’an’s global relevance and fosters values of tolerance, moderation and balance
MAKKAH: An awareness exhibition aimed at enriching pilgrims’ experiences and spreading the Holy Qur'an’s guidance and cultural insights has opened in the third Saudi expansion area of the Grand Mosque.
The event, launched by the Presidency of Religious Affairs at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque, highlights the Qur’an’s global relevance and fosters values of tolerance, moderation and balance.
Sheikh Abdulrahman Al-Sudais, head of the presidency, said it underlined the Qur’an’s message and aligned with the leadership’s commitment to serving the holy book and spreading its sciences, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
The exhibition offers a unique opportunity for millions of pilgrims to view rare and ancient copies of the Qur’an, some dating back more than 1,000 years. These include old handwritten copies, wooden panels with Qur’anic verses, and other significant manuscripts.
Saudi, Dutch deal to enhance farm services
- Partnership will focus on improving services in Kingdom’s agricultural sector
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s National Co. for Agricultural Services, known as AgriServ, and the Netherlands’ Delphy signed a cooperation agreement during the recent GreenTech exhibition in Amsterdam.
The agreement aims to strengthen collaboration in the agricultural sector by transferring best practices and advanced expertise, enhancing operational efficiency and improving services for farmers and agricultural establishments across Saudi Arabia.
It was signed by Omar Alsuhaibani, CEO of AgriServ, and Jacco van der Wekken, CEO of Delphy, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Wednesday.
The partnership will focus on improving services in the Kingdom’s agricultural sector, including cooperation on certification, specialized training programs, and technical consultations for farmers and agricultural projects.
AgriServ is a government entity established by Cabinet decision and is tasked with providing agricultural services assigned by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture.
3-month ban on midday outdoor work in Saudi Arabia from June 15
- The ministry said employers must ensure workers avoid direct exposure to the sun during this period and urged them to adjust working hours accordingly
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development has announced a three-month ban on outdoor work between noon and 3 p.m. for all private sector establishments, effective from June 15 to Sept. 15.
The ministry said employers must ensure workers avoid direct exposure to the sun during this period and urged them to adjust working hours accordingly, with the goal of reducing occupational injuries and health risks.
The regulation, issued in cooperation with the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, aims to protect workers’ health and promote a safer working environment, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
To support implementation, the ministry has published a procedural guide on preventing sun exposure and an advisory guide for working in hot environments. Both are available on its website.
Violations can be reported via the ministry’s hotline — 19911 — or its smartphone app.
