SDRPY Hands Over 150 Housing Units to Yemeni Families in Aden

Part of the ceremony of handing over the rehabilitated housing units in Aden, Yemen, on Thursday, December 1, 2022. (SDRPY)
Part of the ceremony of handing over the rehabilitated housing units in Aden, Yemen, on Thursday, December 1, 2022. (SDRPY)
TT

SDRPY Hands Over 150 Housing Units to Yemeni Families in Aden

Part of the ceremony of handing over the rehabilitated housing units in Aden, Yemen, on Thursday, December 1, 2022. (SDRPY)
Part of the ceremony of handing over the rehabilitated housing units in Aden, Yemen, on Thursday, December 1, 2022. (SDRPY)

The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) on Friday, delivered 150 homes in Yemen’s Aden to improve the living conditions of low-income families.

The new residences were part of the ‘Adequate Housing’ project implemented in partnership with the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT) and AlWaleed Philanthropies.

Over 4,000 people are set to benefit from this project after the rehabilitation of a targeted number of 600 low-income housing units in Aden.

Eng. Ahmed Medkhali, SDRPY director in Aden, said the project was part of Saudi Arabia’s intensified effort to rehabilitate damaged homes and build safe residences that provide proper living conditions for the Yemeni people.

He affirmed that the project is carried out under the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and the continuous follow-up from the project general supervisor, Ambassador Mohammed bin Saeed Al Jaber.

The project contributes to improving the living conditions of Yemeni families by ensuring that their housing is safe, secure and designed to resist hazards.

In partnership with the University of Aden, the project provided over 200 unemployed youth with vocational training opportunities, focusing on skills such as carpentry and installing and repairing electrical systems.

Yemeni construction workers were given vocational training in electricity, solar energy, photography, and painting.

It upskilled 40 engineers in advanced geographical information systems, construction project management, specialized procurement and project cost calculation, and technical and economic feasibility studies.

Engineers from the Ministry of Public Works and Roads have also been trained in project management.



Islamabad: 50,000 Pakistanis Are Missing in Iraq

Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)
Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)
TT

Islamabad: 50,000 Pakistanis Are Missing in Iraq

Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)
Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)

Pakistan’s Minister of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain sparked controversy when he revealed that 50,000 Pakistanis have gone missing in Iraq over the years.

He urged the Baghdad government to immediately launch a probe into how the Pakistanis entered Iraq to visit religious sites during the month of Muharram, he was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s Ummat newspaper.

Islamabad is investigating how people have traveled outside Pakistan through illegal means, he remarked.

The permanent committee for religious affairs and interfaith harmony has since proposed new policies for trips to holy sites in foreign countries, including Iraq.

In Iraq, the minister’s comments drew mockery and condemnation on social media and sparked renewed debate over illegal workers in the country.

Politician Mishaan al-Juburi urged the government to make a statement over Hussain’s comments, warning that they may impact security and the labor force.

Hussain’s comments coincided with Iraqi police announcing the arrest of six Pakistanis in Baghdad on charges of theft.

Previously, military intelligence also announced the arrest of a nine-member Pakistani kidnapping and extortion gang in Baghdad. The gang had kidnapped foreigners for ransom.

Meanwhile, Labor Minister Ahmed al-Asadi expressed his concern and condemnation over the increasing number of illegal workers in Iraq.

He said his ministry will investigate the disappearance of the Pakistanis.

He confirmed that several tourists, including Pakistanis, have flocked to Iraq in recent days, and many have taken up employment without the necessary legal permits.

He warned that this phenomenon is negatively impacting the national economy.

The ministry will not be lenient in taking the necessary legal measures against the violators, he vowed.

Iraq welcomes all tourists, whether they are here on a religious visit or otherwise, but they must respect local laws and regulations, declared Asadi.

Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala.