KSRelief signs vital aid deals to help Yemenis during Ramadan

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center provides free health services to Yemenis. (SPA)
Updated 07 May 2019
Follow

KSRelief signs vital aid deals to help Yemenis during Ramadan

  • Two deals will provide much needed food and medical aid to Yemenis

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has signed two major deals to provide vital aid to Yemenis during Ramadan.

Emergency health services and food support are among the multimillion-dollar contracts agreed between the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) and a civil society organization in war-torn Yemen.

Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, general supervisor of KSRelief, said on Tuesday that the aid programs aimed to save the lives of at-risk Yemenis and offer emergency and free health care to internally displaced persons (IDPs).

Special nutritional foods will be given to children under the age of five, and other services will include vaccinations for mothers and children, reproductive health care for mothers and lactating women, pregnancy follow-up, treatment of injuries, activation of a medical referral system, health education, and the safe disposal of waste.

Al-Rabeeah said the first contract signed will be directed toward 91,250 IDPs in the Hodeidah governorate. A second agreement will provide clean drinking water, and sanitation and hygiene services to 30,000 IDPs in the same region. A safe and healthy waste disposal system will be installed to reduce the risk of spread of disease.

The project will also secure healthy daily-use water sources, including the transporting and packaging of water, provision of hygiene kits and the establishment of an area for safe waste collection and disposal.

Al-Rabeeah recently signed two other agreements to provide food aid to the people of Yemen as part of the $240 million Saudi-UAE “Imdad” initiative.

UN World Food Program (WFP) representative, Rehan Asad, said: “The generous contribution from Saudi Arabia and the UAE will make a significant impact on innocent people in Yemen.”

“This contribution of $240 million will really assist the WFP to help the people of Yemen in the month of Ramadan and Eid Al-Fitr, to support them and their families to survive and to have the food support they truly deserve,” Asad added.

“On behalf of the WFP, we thank Saudi Arabia and the UAE for their generous contribution. WFP is committed to helping the people in Yemen, along with our partners and looks forward to continuing its partnerships in the future.”


Ithra will bring Spain to life for 2-week cultural celebration

Updated 08 January 2026
Follow

Ithra will bring Spain to life for 2-week cultural celebration

  • Ithra Cultural Days will unfold across the plaza, museum, theater, lush garden, library, idea lab, cinema, children’s museum, energy exhibit and Ithra tower

DHAHRAN: Visitors to the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) can enjoy a taste of Spanish culture from Jan. 12-31.

Under the banner “Live Spain,” spaces at Ithra will be transformed to give a glimpse of life in this vibrant European country.

Ithra Cultural Days will unfold across the plaza, museum, theater, lush garden, library, idea lab, cinema, children’s museum, energy exhibit and Ithra tower, with exhibitions dedicated to Spanish photography, fashion and sports. There will also be Spanish cuisine and interactive installations exploring historical and linguistic connections between Arab and Spanish traditions.

There will be live performances across various stages, with a production of “Carmen” among the highlights.

“Cultural exchange is a core part of Ithra’s approach to programming. Celebrating Spain’s culture and history reflects this focus, particularly as this year’s Cultural Days take on a distinctive character by exploring Spain’s cultural heritage,” Noura Alzamil, program manager at Ithra, said.

“Visitors to Ithra will experience an exciting program in every sense, given the scale and variety of events designed to appeal to all tastes and interests.”

Cinema showings will feature Spanish short and feature films, accompanied by post-screening discussions to provide additional cultural context, while talks and sessions in the idea lab and library will explore architecture, literature and creative practice.

Hands-on workshops will invite visitors to engage directly with Spanish crafts and creative traditions, from visual arts and design to food-related practices.

A dedicated program for children and youth will run alongside with storytelling, creative workshops and performances among the attractions. Food and market experiences in Ithra’s public spaces will reflect the important social role played in the country by food.

Ithra Cultural Days present international cultures through immersive, public-facing experiences. This year’s focus on Spain follows the success of last year’s Japan edition, which welcomed more than 200,000 visitors in just two weeks.