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Yemeni Child Recruits Undergoing Rehab Visit Marib’s Historic Dam

Child soldiers with Houthi fighters hold weapons during a demonstration in Sanaa on March 13, 2015. PHOTO: Reuters
Child soldiers with Houthi fighters hold weapons during a demonstration in Sanaa on March 13, 2015. PHOTO: Reuters
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Yemeni Child Recruits Undergoing Rehab Visit Marib’s Historic Dam

Child soldiers with Houthi fighters hold weapons during a demonstration in Sanaa on March 13, 2015. PHOTO: Reuters
Child soldiers with Houthi fighters hold weapons during a demonstration in Sanaa on March 13, 2015. PHOTO: Reuters

Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center organized on Monday a recreational trip for children undergoing rehabilitation in Yemen’s Amran governorate.

The children were inhumanely recruited by Houthi militias to fight on battlefronts. KSRelief had previously committed to a program to rehabilitate child soldiers recruited during Yemen’s war.

The trip included a visit to the Great Marib Dam and waterfalls in Ubaida Valley in Marib and the practice of diverse games, entertainment, and cultural competitions, reported the Saudi state-owned news agency SPA.

In the first phase of the program, at least 40 children from the provinces of Marib and Al-Jawf have been rehabilitated.

Child Psychologist Dr. Mahioub Al-Mekhlafi explained that the recreational trip "is one of the most important forms of psychological support for children qualifying for the second phase of rehabilitation.”

Mekhlafi said that the excursion provided the children with an atmosphere away from the hostility and difficulties they had experienced.

On that note, KSrelief has distributed 2,500 food baskets in Al-Hamli area in Mozea Directorate of Taiz governorate as part of the emergency relief project carried out by the center in liberated areas of the West Coast for the relief of citizens and displaced people.

Center representative Abdulaziz Bawazeer said that aid being offered to displaced people in Al-Hamli and adjacent areas comes within the context of the center’s relief program of liberated areas on the west coast—an area which has not been reached by anyone yet.

Bawazeer pointed out the center has laid out a plan of emergency humanitarian relief response to help west coast residents and will benefit a large number of citizens and displaced people.

A number of citizens have expressed happiness and gratitude over the arrival of much needed humanitarian assistance. Yemenis delivered their thanks to King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and the Saudi people.

The Center is the first international organization to reach Al-Hamli after Houthi militias were driven out.

This coincided with the Adra American organization distributing dry food to displaced people in Taiz and Aden governorate.

“The Adra organization began distributing dry food to 775 displaced families from in areas close to clashes in Taiz governorate and Aden. The displaced person is given a voucher of 27,000 riyals and receives from the supermarket selected needs," said Dr. Yassin Abdel-Alim al-Qabati.

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Syria Joins a Donor Conference for the First Time in a Crucial Phase for Its New Leaders

EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)
EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)
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Syria Joins a Donor Conference for the First Time in a Crucial Phase for Its New Leaders

EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)
EU High Representative and Vice-President for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas (C), Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani (C-R), Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi (C-L) and representatives pose for a family picture on the sidelines of the Brussels IX Conference “Standing with Syria: meeting the needs for a successful transition”, at the Europa Building in Brussels on March 17, 2025. (AFP)

International donors gathered on Monday in a show of support for Syria, hoping to encourage the new leaders of the conflict-ravaged country toward a peaceful political transition following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad in December.

Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani attended the conference — the ninth of its kind — in a first for a top official from Damascus.

But the United States, one of Syria’s top donors, wasn’t expected to offer assistance as the Trump administration is reviewing all foreign aid. It contributed almost $1.2 billion to Syria and the region last year.

Ministers and representatives from Western partners, Syria’s regional neighbors, other Arab countries and UN agencies also attended the one-day meeting in Brussels, organized in haste by the European Union amid change sweeping the country.

Opening the meeting, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that the EU was increasing its pledge to Syrians in the country and the region to almost 2.5 billion euros ($2.7 billion) for 2025 and 2026.

“We call on all of you who are here today to do the same, if possible, because at this critical time, the people of Syria need us more than ever,” von der Leyen said.

Syria's new leaders are trying to consolidate control over territory that was divided into de facto mini-states during nearly 14 years of civil war, and to rebuild the economy and infrastructure. The United Nations has estimated that it would cost at least $250 billion to rebuild Syria, while experts say that could reach at least $400 billion.

At the same time, Western governments are cutting back on aid spending, in part to use in defense budgets.

“We will give more, but we cannot fill the gap left by the US,” EU Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib told reporters. "We will need to share the burden.”

Security concerns are also making donors hesitate. Earlier this month, an ambush on a Syrian security patrol by gunmen loyal to Assad triggered clashes. Some factions allied with the new government launched sectarian revenge attacks — primarily targeting Assad’s Alawite minority sect — that monitoring groups say killed hundreds of civilians over several days.

The EU said that it will only support “a peaceful and inclusive transition, away from malign foreign interference, which guarantees the rights of all Syrians without distinction of any kind.”

The 27-nation bloc has begun to ease energy, transport and financial sector sanctions to encourage the new authorities, but many other Western sanctions remain in place. The EU can reintroduce sanctions if things don’t go to the liking of Western backers.

Syria's foreign minister said that lifting the measures is no longer just a government demand but "a humanitarian and moral necessity.”

"We cannot talk about economic recovery and humanitarian development in Syria while restrictions continue to prevent even the arrival of medical equipment and spare parts to repair damaged hospitals and essential service facilities,” he said.

Syria's economy, infrastructure and institutions are in tatters. As a failed state, it could become another haven for extremists.

Amy Pope, director-general of the International Organization for Migration, urged donors to seize this opportunity to encourage the interim government to move in the right direction.

“It’s critical that countries take advantage of the moment we’re in,” Pope told The Associated Press.

“Of course, we all want to see an inclusive Syria,” she said. “We want to make sure there’s accountability for human rights violations. But the answer is to engage more, not to engage less.”

Syrians have only a few hours of electricity each day. Water supplies are unreliable and often unsafe. Unemployment runs to 80% or 90%. Destruction is widespread.

Many government employees and experts needed to rebuild fled after the 2011 peaceful anti-regime protests were violently quelled by Assad, leading to the conflict.

The UN refugee agency said that last year around 7 million people were displaced in Syria. More than 4.7 million refugees are registered in neighboring countries, most in Türkiye, Lebanon and Jordan.

The German government said that it would pledge around 300 million euros ($326 million) to help deal with the fallout from Syria’s civil war. More than half will be used to help people in Syria, with other funding supporting Syrians and communities elsewhere.

Monday's conference was also focused on meeting Syria’s economic needs. Infrastructure, health and education must be scaled up. Jobs and cash for work programs are needed so that Syrians can start to make a living.