RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSrelief has signed a $5 million agreement with the UN Development Programme to rehabilitate damaged bakeries in the Syrian Arab Republic.

The agreement was formalized on the sidelines of the fourth European Humanitarian Forum held in Brussels on May 19 and 20, the Saudi Press Agency reported. 

It was signed by KSrelief Supervisor General Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah and the UNDP’s Administrator Achim Steiner. 

Under the project, 33 damaged bakeries across various Syrian governorates will be rehabilitated, the SPA reported. 

This includes basic restoration, installation of new production lines, maintenance of existing ones, and the rehabilitation of two mobile bread production units.

The project aims to bolster food security in regions with large numbers of returnees, displaced persons, and host communities by restoring the operations of government-run bakeries.

Through rehabilitation and increased production capacity, it will help meet the essential needs of the population, according to the SPA.

Additionally, the project is expected to create 500 jobs in the bakery sector, supporting local economic recovery.

This initiative is a part of the Kingdom’s ongoing humanitarian efforts, led by KSrelief, to enhance food security and alleviate hardships faced by people worldwide, in cooperation with UN humanitarian agencies. 

KSrelief’s participation in the forum reflected its commitment to strengthening global humanitarian efforts in the medium and long term. 

The forum’s participants included humanitarian leaders from various countries and organizations. It featured discussion sessions and interactive workshops focused on humanitarian priorities and geopolitical challenges.

It also served as a platform to reinforce respect for international humanitarian law, ensure access to aid, and enable the protection of humanitarian workers.