JEDDAH: In line with directives from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) on Monday signed two projects with the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
The projects were signed by Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Rabeeah, adviser at the Royal Court and general supervisor of KSRelief, and Khairat Kabalari, UNICEF regional director for the Middle East and North Africa.
Al-Rabiah expressed his happiness at the signing of the agreements, whose total value is more than $36 million.
The projects aim to fight cholera, rehabilitate household water tanks, provide potable water and chlorination for disinfection, qualify water systems, build and qualify toilets, and get rid of solid waste.
“The second agreement covers providing vaccines for children under 5 years of age, which will benefit 1.14 million children,” said Al-Rabeeah.
The vaccines are against polio, measles, mumps, whooping cough, tetanus, meningitis, hepatitis B and diphtheria, he added.
“The agreement also covers the training of 2,000 male and female health workers, organizing 600 house visits, implementing health education and distributing 1 million explanatory brochures.”
Al-Rabeeah praised KSRelief’s cooperation with UNICEF in Yemen and other countries, and expressed hoped that the agreements will help alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people.
Kabalari said the projects will help fight cholera in Yemen and put an end to the suffering of millions of children.
He thanked the Kingdom, represented by KSRelief, for its generous support.
KSRelief has distributed 1,500 boxes of dates in Al-Khawkhah and Hees districts of Yemen’s Hodeidah governorate, benefiting some 12,000 people.
KSRelief, which is implementing 217 humanitarian projects throughout Yemen, also distributed 1,000 boxes of dates to 8,000 beneficiaries in Ad Dis district in Hadhramaut governorate.
KSRelief, UNICEF to fight cholera, provide vaccines in Yemen
KSRelief, UNICEF to fight cholera, provide vaccines in Yemen
- Children under 5 years of age, which will benefit 1.14 million children
- KSRelief has distributed 1,500 boxes of dates in Al-Khawkhah and Hees districts
Saudi Arabia's Sharaan and Wadi Nakhlah nature reserves win Dark Sky recognition
- The two reserves in AlUla join more than 250 locations worldwide that are protected from light pollution
- AlUla Manara and AlGharameel Nature Reserve, also both in AlUla, received Dark Sky Park designations last year
ALULA: Two more nature reserves in Saudi Arabia's AlUla have won recognition as Dark Sky Places, joining more than 250 locations worldwide that are protected from light pollution.
The official accreditation of Sharaan National Park and Wadi Nakhlah reserves from the DarkSky International builds on AlUla's 2024 achievement, when AlUla Manara and AlGharameel Nature Reserve became the first sites in the Kingdom and the Gulf region to receive Dark Sky Park designations.
The latest recognition further strengthens AlUla’s position as a leading global destination for night sky protection and astronomical tourism, said the Royal Commission for AlUla (RCU) in a statement carried by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).
Dark Sky International also announced the recognition in an earlier report, noting that the Sharaan and Wadi Nakhlah's combined area of 6,146 square kilometers reflects the "expanded scope of environmental protection efforts aimed at preserving AlUla's pristine night skies and reducing light pollution across a vast geographical area."
DarkSky International works to reduce light pollution in both urban and rural areas and to raise global awareness of the importance of protecting the night sky.
AlUla's protected areas are located in the heart of northwest Arabia, near the ancient oasis city of AlUla in Madinah Province.
"Towering sandstone cliffs, labyrinthine canyons, tranquil basins, and volcanic formations create a dramatic setting where geological diversity, cultural heritage, and thriving biodiversity converge beneath exceptionally dark, open skies," Dark Sky said.
Scientists have noted that AlUla’s natural isolation from urban light sources, combined with ideal atmospheric conditions, makes it a world-class destination for stargazing, astronomy education, and immersive dark-sky experiences.
With the phased development of its reserves, AlUla is now ranked 3rd globally in the Dark Sky Park category, solidifying its status as one of the world’s premier destinations for astronomical discovery.
The RCU reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the natural environment, preserving the night sky, and promoting sustainable tourism, further positioning AlUla as a leading global destination for astronomy, scientific research, and advanced environmental experiences, in line with AlUla Vision and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
