KSrelief, UN Women empower displaced Yemenis

Over 12 months, the initiative will directly benefit 18,000 displaced women and survivors of violence. (SPA)
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Updated 03 May 2025
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KSrelief, UN Women empower displaced Yemenis

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSrelief has launched a project to protect and empower women affected by gender-based violence in Yemen’s Aden and Taiz governorates.

The project is being implemented in cooperation with UN Women and Yemen’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, the Saudi Press Agency reported.

Over 12 months, it will directly benefit 18,000 displaced women and survivors of violence, as well as 325 frontline workers in safe spaces and protection centers. It also aims to indirectly impact about 126,000 individuals.

The initiative seeks to enhance protection for women and girls, build the capacity of workers handling violence cases, expand psychosocial and legal support, and raise community awareness through women’s rights education campaigns.

UN Women Yemen representative Dina Zorba thanked Saudi Arabia, through KSrelief, for its generous support and humanitarian vision prioritizing women’s empowerment.

She said that the project went beyond protection services, offering an integrated approach to restoring dignity, enhancing resilience and empowering women as partners in peace-building and recovery.

Meanwhile, KSrelief has launched another project to distribute 4,012 food baskets to the neediest individuals across several districts in Yemen’s Hadramout governorate, benefiting 28,084 people.

Hadramout Undersecretary for Valley and Desert Affairs Amer Al-Amri praised KSrelief’s pioneering humanitarian role and the Kingdom’s support across various humanitarian sectors in Yemen.

This effort is part of Saudi Arabia’s broader relief projects to bridge the food gap in Yemen and improve quality of life.


Prince Turki visits nation’s new DarkSky International site

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Prince Turki visits nation’s new DarkSky International site

  • Naming of Nafud Al-Kabir Desert highlights Kingdom’s standing
  • 80% of world’s people live under skies affected by light pollution

JEDDAH: Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz recently toured the Kingdom’s recently named DarkSky International site, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Monday.

The prince visited the Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve after it was officially recognized last week.

Prince Turki, who is a minister of state and chairman of the reserve’s development authority, was accompanied by Prince Faisal bin Fahd bin Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, deputy governor of the Hail region.

During the visit, Prince Turki met with members of the local community, reviewed grazing conditions in the area, and toured historical sites.

The DarkSky designation represents a national achievement that reflects Saudi Arabia’s advanced regional and global environmental standing and its commitment to protecting rare environments, the SPA reported.

Prince Turki said the achievement was made possible by the support of the Kingdom’s leadership in line with the goals of Vision 2030.

He added that the designation of the Nafud Al-Kabir Desert as a DarkSky site highlights the Kingdom’s pioneering approach to international environmental initiatives amid growing global light pollution.

International studies indicate that around 80 percent of the world’s people now live under skies affected by light pollution.

Prince Turki was briefed on the scientific and regulatory efforts undertaken by the authority to reduce light pollution and implement internationally recognized DarkSky management standards.

These efforts aim to preserve the site’s astronomical characteristics, support ecosystem sustainability, and position the area as a hub for astronomical tourism and scientific research, the SPA reported.

The Nafud Al-Kabir Desert is one of the largest accredited sites in the region, covering approximately 13,416 sq. km.

It joins more than 250 protected dark-sky areas worldwide, further strengthening the Kingdom’s position among leading countries in this field.

The Imam Turki bin Abdullah Royal Nature Reserve Development Authority aims to establish the location as a leading environmental destination and center for astronomy tourism, the SPA reported.

There are more than 160,000 sq. km of land protected from light pollution across 22 countries on six continents.