KSrelief: Houthis Hamper Access of 632 Ships, Trucks

KSrelief spokesman Dr. Samer Aljetaily during a news conference in Riyadh on Monday. Asharq Al-Awsat
KSrelief spokesman Dr. Samer Aljetaily during a news conference in Riyadh on Monday. Asharq Al-Awsat
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KSrelief: Houthis Hamper Access of 632 Ships, Trucks

KSrelief spokesman Dr. Samer Aljetaily during a news conference in Riyadh on Monday. Asharq Al-Awsat
KSrelief spokesman Dr. Samer Aljetaily during a news conference in Riyadh on Monday. Asharq Al-Awsat

An official from King Salman Center for Humanitarian Aid and Relief (KSrelief) revealed on Monday that Houthis blocked 65 relief ships at Hodeidah and Saleef ports in addition to 567 relief-loaded trucks in various Yemeni regions between April 2015 and December 2017. 

KSRelief spokesman Dr. Samer Aljetaily said during a news conference in Riyadh that Houthi militias confiscated during the past four months around 363 relief trucks, looted 6,315 relief baskets and traded them in the black market in areas controlled by the insurgents.

He added that KSrelief’s total number of aid projects worldwide stands at 308 with 119 partners at the value of $967m while the total number of projects in Yemen stands at 175, implemented in association with 77 partners at the cost of $821m.

During the past two years, he said, the center provided 7,590 people with relief assistance by air and that 364,000 people from 85 nationalities were evacuated from Yemen.

In the first half of 2017, Houthi militias recruited 568 Yemeni children under the age of 18, and more than 8,000 children since 2015, he said.

The center launched the third phase of its Yemeni children rehabilitation program for those recruited by the Houthis, he stated, adding that the program, which targets 2,000 children, aims to help them integrate into the Yemeni community.

Commenting on cholera updates, Aljetaily declared that no cholera-related deaths were recorded in the past weeks, affirming that several organizations shut down their private clinics in multiple Yemeni provinces in an indicator on the successful efforts to halt the spread of the disease.



Preparations Underway for the Syrian National Dialogue Conference

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya and Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jassim Al-Budaiwi during their meeting in Damascus with the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed Al-Sharaa (EPA)
Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya and Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jassim Al-Budaiwi during their meeting in Damascus with the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed Al-Sharaa (EPA)
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Preparations Underway for the Syrian National Dialogue Conference

Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya and Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jassim Al-Budaiwi during their meeting in Damascus with the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed Al-Sharaa (EPA)
Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al-Yahya and Secretary-General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Jassim Al-Budaiwi during their meeting in Damascus with the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed Al-Sharaa (EPA)

Efforts are in full swing to organize the upcoming Syrian National Dialogue Conference, with informed sources confirming the formation of a preparatory committee.

According to reports on Monday, 1,200 Syrians from both inside and outside the country are expected to be invited. The attendees will participate as individuals rather than representatives of organizations, with 70 to 100 participants from each governorate, encompassing all social groups.

Dr. Moayad Qablawi, the conference coordinator, announced in a recent interview that the preparatory committee will soon be officially unveiled, as preparations intensify for the event scheduled for January 4-5.

Local media reports indicate that the committee is finalizing invitations, organizing sessions, and drafting the conference schedule. Invitations will be extended to military personnel, clergy from various sects, politicians, civil society representatives, experts, and legal professionals. All participants will attend in their personal capacities, avoiding representation of external entities.

Excluded from the conference are groups such as the Syrian Coalition, the Negotiations Committee, and political or military factions formed during the 13-year Syrian crisis, which the new administration deems outdated following the regime change.

The conference is expected to lead to significant milestones, including drafting a new constitution for Syria, establishing a new government within a month, and dissolving the People’s Assembly and all armed factions, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTC), which played a key role in toppling the Assad regime.

Sources have also confirmed ongoing discussions with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Kurdish National Council regarding their participation in the dialogue. Speaking to Al-Arabiya Al-Hadath, Ahmed al-Sharaa, the HTS-leader-turned de facto ruler of Syria, highlighted the topics to be addressed during the conference in Damascus.

These include the disbanding of HTC and other armed factions, alongside the integration of such groups—including the SDF—into the Ministry of Defense. Key issues such as the constitution, elections, and broader national reconciliation will also be on the agenda.

According to the sources, messages of reassurance have been sent both domestically and internationally, emphasizing the preservation of Syria’s societal diversity and the inclusion of its various components.

The conference will feature a broad array of participants, including Syrian youth, women, clergy, and civil society representatives. Additionally, an advisory body will likely be formed to assist the interim president, comprising individuals chosen for their merit and competence.