SDRPY Launches Project to Develop Main Road in Hadhramout

A family sits outside their flooded home on the outskirts of Sanaa (File photo: Reuters)
A family sits outside their flooded home on the outskirts of Sanaa (File photo: Reuters)
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SDRPY Launches Project to Develop Main Road in Hadhramout

A family sits outside their flooded home on the outskirts of Sanaa (File photo: Reuters)
A family sits outside their flooded home on the outskirts of Sanaa (File photo: Reuters)

The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program of Yemen (SDRPY) launched the first phase of rehabilitation and expansion of one of the most important vital roads in Hadhramout, Yemen, linking several governorates with Saudi Arabia through al-Wadiah border crossing.

The expansion and rehabilitation project for al-Abar road includes the rehabilitation of the 40-km Mkhtam-Ghuirban section, 40-km Ghuirban-Dhubaibi, and the 25-km Dhubaibi-Abar section.

The project comes in addition to dozens of others accomplished by SDRPY in most Yemeni governorates, in terms of services and infrastructure, support for farmers, fishermen, health, and education sectors.

Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed bin Saeed Al Jaber explained during his recent meetings in London the Program’s 65 projects established since 2019 all over Yemen.

Jaber, who is also SDRPY Supervisor, indicated that the program supports 7 sectors including health, education, electricity and energy, agriculture and fisheries, water, roads, ports, airports, and government buildings.

He noted that SDRPY works in most governorates such as Aden, Hadhramout, al-Jouf, Maerib, Hajjah, Socotra, and Muhra to help achieve economic stability.

Jaber said the program is keen on reaching the various directorates in the Yemeni governorates, through several representative offices and aims to continuously monitor the projects currently being implemented.

The program also holds continuous meetings with local officials to coordinate efforts and provide help to the governorates.

SDRPY and various international organizations constantly coordinate efforts and hold various meetings and workshops to exchange experiences on sustainable development projects such as greenhouses and a number of projects that depend on solar energy.

Also, the local authority in Maerib celebrated the rehabilitation of a new batch of child recruits as part of the program funded by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSRelief).

The ceremony celebrated the rehabilitation of 27 of the recruited children to bring the total number of rehabilitated children up to 481 through 19 training courses.

Speaking at the occasion, Deputy Governor of Marib governorate for administrative affairs Abdullah al-Bakri highly praised significant efforts of KSRelief in humanitarian actions in different spheres including rehabilitating the children who were recruited by Iran-allied Houthi militia and were badly traumatized as a result.



Clerics Accuse West Bank Israeli Settlers of Attacking Christian Sites

Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
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Clerics Accuse West Bank Israeli Settlers of Attacking Christian Sites

Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)
Latin Patriarch in Jerusalem Pierbattista Pizzaballa walks during the visit of the town of Taybeh, a Christian village in the Israeli-Occupied West Bank, following settler attacks, July 14, 2025. (Reuters)

Christian leaders accused Israeli settlers on Monday of attacking sacred sites in the West Bank, in violence that one said was forcing some to consider quitting the occupied territory.

The Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem, Theophilos III - visiting the Christian town of Taybeh with other Jerusalem-based clerics - said settlers had started a fire near a cemetery and a 5th century church there last week.

"These actions are a direct and intentional threat to our local community ... but also to the historic and religious heritage," the patriarch told diplomats and journalists at a press conference in Taybeh.

Settlers had also attacked homes in the area, he said.

"We call for an immediate and transparent investigation on why the Israeli police did not respond to emergency calls from the local community and why these abhorrent actions continue to go unpunished," he added.

Israel's government spokesperson did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Israel's government had previously said that any acts of violence by civilians are unacceptable and that individuals should not take the law into their own hands.

During the visit, the heads of the churches led locals in prayer as candles flickered in the ruins of the 5th century church of St George. They spoke with residents who described their fears.

B'Tselem and other rights groups say settler violence in the West Bank has risen since the start of Israel's war against Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza in late 2023.

Dozens of Israelis have also been killed in Palestinian street attacks in recent years and the Israeli military has intensified raids across the West Bank.

Palestinian health authorities and witnesses said two men, including a US citizen, were killed by settlers during a confrontation on Friday night.

Fears over violence were pushing Christians to leave the West Bank, Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Roman Catholic Patriarch of Jerusalem since 2020, said.

"Unfortunately, the temptation to emigrate is there because of the situation," he added. "This time it's very difficult to see how and when this will finish, and especially for the youth to talk about hope, trust for the future."

Around 50,000 Christian Palestinians live in Jerusalem and in the West Bank, an area that includes many of the faith's most sacred sites including Bethlehem where believers say Jesus was born.

Around 700,000 Israeli settlers live among 2.7 million Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, territories Israel captured from Jordan in the 1967 war, which Palestinians see as part of a future state.