RIYADH: The Saudi aid agency KSrelief is hosting an exhibition at UN headquarters in New York during Humanitarian Week, from Dec. 7 to 15.
The inauguration ceremony was led by Ambassador Abdulaziz Al-Wasil, the permanent representative of Saudi Arabia to the UN. It was attended by William David Grisley, the UN humanitarian coordinator for Yemen, Abdullah Al-Saadi, the permanent representative of Yemen to the UN, and other officials from KSrelief.
Al-Wasil commended the projects showcased at the exhibition, highlighting the professional execution that exemplifies KSrelief’s commitment to humanitarian initiatives. He expressed deep admiration for the Kingdom’s role in providing global assistance to those in need.
Grisley acknowledged the strategic collaboration between the Kingdom and the UN, emphasizing their joint efforts in delivering crucial humanitarian aid to the Yemeni people.
Al-Saadi extended heartfelt thanks to the Kingdom, recognizing its substantial contributions to various humanitarian endeavors.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Moallem, KSrelief’s director for health and environmental aid, shed light on the pivotal role played by the center, notably through Project Masam, which has successfully cleared Yemeni lands of 424,527 mines since the start of the initiative in 2018.
He also underscored the impact of the Artificial Limbs Program, which has benefitted over 26,000 individuals in Yemen and Syria by providing high-quality prosthetics to amputees.
The program also focuses on training local personnel in artificial limb manufacturing techniques and building the capacity of healthcare institutions for the localization and sustainability of services.
Shalhoub Al-Shalhoub, the exhibition supervisor, described the captivating displays, featuring interactive visual screens showcasing the center’s relief and humanitarian programs. These initiatives have amounted to an impressive 2,670 projects in 95 countries, with a cumulative value exceeding $6.5 billion across vital sectors.
The exhibition also provided insights into programs specifically tailored for the Yemeni people, totaling 862 projects valued at over $4.3 billion.
The center’s pavilion likewise highlighted volunteer programs, boasting 535 initiatives in 38 countries and resulting in over 140,000 surgeries that have benefited more than 1.2 million individuals.
This year’s Human Rights Day, observed annually on Dec. 10, commemorates the 75th anniversary of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the UN General Assembly in 1948.