The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief) launched in Riyadh on Monday the Saudi Project for Landmines Clearance in Yemen (MASAM), reported the Saudi Press Agency.
The inauguration was attended by several princes, ministers, senior officials, diplomatic corps members and international humanitarian organizations representatives.
Addressing the gathering, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah, Advisor-Royal Court and General Supervisor of KSRelief, stressed that since its establishment, Saudi Arabia has provided a series of initiatives of charity and benevolence to fraternal and neighboring countries in line with the religion of Islam.
He stressed that in the past three years, Saudi Arabia has provided more than 11 billion dollars in aid to Yemen.
He said MASAM is one of several projects and initiatives by the Kingdom to alleviate the suffering of the Yemeni people.
He extended gratitude to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their great efforts to KSRelief support humanitarian work in many countries in the world, Yemen in particular.
Secretary-General of the International Civil Defense Organization (ICDO), Dr. Vladimir Kalashnikov said landmines have claimed the lives of many people in Yemen, Syria, Libya and Iraq.
He pointed out that the ICDO has a long history in the field of dismantling landmines in several regions around the world, including Serbia, Croatia, Sri Lanka and Lebanon, adding that Yemen has always been an active member since joining the organization.
He praised the cooperation between the ICDO and KSRelief, saying he looks forward to continuing to work closely with the center to achieve common goals in protecting communities and nations from disasters.
Yemeni Foreign Minister Khalid al-Yamani said that the Houthi militias have caused a major humanitarian catastrophe in his country, adding that the mines they planted have only compounded the people’s suffering.
He accused Iran of supplying the militias with the mines and explosives, revealing that preliminary figures showed that the militias have planted more than one million mines throughout Yemen.
They have left more than 693 people dead and 704 injured, including 216 children and 72 women.
In a press conference later on Monday, Al Rabeeah said that the one-year five-phase MASAM project will cost $40 million, adding that it will work on the ground with the Yemen National Program for Landmines Clearance.
Humanitarian work is a top priority for the Kingdom in all liberated areas, he stressed.
He revealed that a Saudi land bridge has been launched to deliver humanitarian and relief assistance to all people in need in Hodeidah province.
Al Rabeeah added that an air bridge will also be launched from Riyadh to Hodeidah on Tuesday. A number of ships will also be sent from Jazan, affirming that Saudi Arabia is keen on the safety of Yemen and its people.
