RIYADH — The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has successfully conducted more than 2,473 humanitarian and relief projects in 92 countries across the world within 8 years since its establishment with a value of more than $6 billion. Saudi Arabia, since its founding by King Abdulaziz, has extended a helping hand to all those in need and alleviated the suffering of people wherever they are. This has continued to this promising and prosperous era with the directives of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman. Saudi Arabia is considered as a pioneer in the field of humanitarian work at the international level. The UN and international organizations have confirmed this due to the Kingdom's humanitarian and relief efforts that extends to spread the seeds of goodness to sprout all over the world. Based on the humanitarian and pioneering role of the Kingdom towards the international community all over the world, King Salman has directed the establishment of KSrelief on May 13, 2015, to become a pioneering center in humanitarian work. It is also based on its belief in the importance of this role that contributes to alleviating human suffering in order to live a decent life. There are so many advantages that stem from KSrelief. One of the things that distinguishes the center is the fact that it organizes and unifies the process of extended Saudi humanitarian and relief work, whether its source is governmental or popular, to be under its umbrella. This comes in a way that guarantees the provision of institutional and organized work in accordance with international and global standards. During 8 years and in 92 countries, KSrelief targeted the most vital sectors, such as food, education, health, nutrition, water, environmental sanitation, shelter and other important sectors. Its aid benefited millions of the most vulnerable and needy groups in the targeted countries, as they were assisted without exception or distinction of race, religion, or color. KSrelief has also succeeded during this period in establishing close partnerships and strategic relations with international, global and regional organizations and civil society organizations. The number of the center's partners has so far reached 175. Moreover, KSrelief's efforts include qualitative humanitarian programs. One of which is the Masam project to clear the Yemeni lands of mines. The project have been able, since its establishment in 2018, to remove more than 410,000 mines that were randomly planted in residential areas, schools and roads. The qualitative programs of KSrelief also include the prosthetic limbs program. This aims to support, treat and provide high-quality prostheses for amputees, and rehabilitate them, in order to become productive people who are able to work and practice their normal lives. The number of beneficiaries from the prosthetic limbs program since 2020 until the end of July 2023, has reached more than 48,000 individuals. They received more than 155,000 free services in prosthetics, maintenance, and physiotherapy, in the governorates of Aden, Taiz, Marib, and Hadhramaut. KSrelief's project to re-integrate children related to the armed conflict in Yemen (Kafak) is also considered as a qualitative project in Yemen. It aims to rehabilitate a number of children recruited there, by integrating them into society, enrolling them in schools and following them up. Kafak rehabilitates children psychologically and socially and prepares courses in this regard for them and their families, so that they can practice their normal lives as children. It also aims to educate parents of children about the dangers of recruitment for this group. The program works to create a healthy family environment by holding awareness and educational courses and introducing laws that criminalize child recruitment. Since its inception in 2017, the Kafak project has benefited 755 children, in addition to 84,592 indirect beneficiaries of children's parents. KSrelief places volunteer work among its main objectives, seeking to develop it, educate young people about its importance, and stimulate them to participate in it. It hopes to contribute in achieving the goals of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 to increase the number of volunteers in the Kingdom to reach 1 million. The center has launched the Saudi International Volunteer Portal, which aims to receive those who wish to volunteer to participate among its program abroad, after being qualified and trained. The number of volunteers registered in the portal has reached so far to more than 53,000 people. KSrelief has also attracted volunteers from various agencies and disciplines to participate in the center's voluntary programs, which amounted to more than 410 voluntary programs in different fields. These programs have been implemented in 35 countries around the world, such as educational, medical, and training programs, in which more than million individuals have benefited from it. KSrelief has celebrated the World Humanitarian Day, which falls on the Aug. 19, by sharing the world's appreciation and gratitude for the humanitarian workers who sacrificed their lives to serve people and help the needy and refugees in various parts of the world.
