Baku, Advisor at the Royal Court and Supervisor General of King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Rabeeah emphasized that Saudi Arabia, represented by KSrelief, is actively involved in removing unexploded ordnance as part of its humanitarian efforts to improve the environment, protect civilians — particularly women and children — build capabilities, provide a safe environment, preserve public health, and reduce the dangerous effects of explosives on individuals and society.
He highlighted the Middle East Green Initiative, announced by HRH the Crown Prince and valued at $2.5 billion. The initiative aims to lead the Kingdom and the region in protecting the land and nature and addressing environmental challenges.
Dr. Al Rabeeah made these statements during his participation in the third annual International Conference on Mine Action, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, May 30 and 31 under the theme “Mitigating the Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilizatio
n for a Safe and Green Future.”
He also emphasized the global impact of Saudi Arabia’s humanitarian aid, stating that the Kingdom has provided over $129 billion in aid to 169 countries worldwide since 1996.
Dr. Al-Rabeeah highlighted that KSrelief has conducted 2,925 humanitarian projects in 99 countries, valued at $6.824 billion. These projects encompass vital sectors such as food, education, health, shelter, nutrition, water, environmental sanitation, and others, in collaboration with 180 partners from international, regional, and local organizations.
Dr. Al Rabeeah also noted the center’s efforts to address the spread of mines in various countries worldwide. He noted that through the center, the Kingdom initiated the Saudi Mine Clearance Project in Yemen (MASAM) in June 2018 as a humanitarian initiative to assist the Yemeni people in dealing with this dangerous security issue.
Dr. Al Rabeeah pointed out that the center’s Masam Project is implemented by Saudi cadres and international expertise to remove
randomly planted mines in their various forms, explaining that the project has been able, since its launch, to remove 443,452 planted explosives in various parts of Yemen and to clear 56,636,614 cubic meters of land. He also said that the project had contributed to building the capabilities of 400 mine clearance specialists.
Dr. Al Rabeeah said that KSrelief signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Azerbaijan National Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) to provide financial support to clear Azerbaijani lands of mines, adding that the center also extended a grant to the Republic of Iraq in April to finance survey projects and the removal of cluster munitions and mines in several governorates.
He explained that the Kingdom, represented by the center, has established the prosthetic limbs program in Yemen, which is a high-quality project that manufactures and provides prosthetic devices for amputated limbs. It also organized various rehabilitation programs for affected segments, from which 3,496,500 individuals have
benefited.
Source: Saudi Press Agency