Saudi Arabia boosts Yemen aid with budget support and mine clearance project extension

Saudi Arabia has bolstered its support for Yemen with a new budget payment and a one-year extension of the Masam Project for landmine clearance, initiatives aimed at easing the nation's severe economic and humanitarian challenges. The Saudi leadership directed the release of a new tranche of financial assistance for Yemen's general budget, a move welcomed by Rashad Al-Alimi, chairman of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council.

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Saudi Arabia’s latest support measures for Yemen have been welcomed by the country’s leadership after Riyadh announced a new budget support payment and extended the Masam Project for landmine clearance for another year.

Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al Jaber announced the approval of more than SAR 224 million (approximately $60 million) to help finance the Yemeni government’s budget deficit and ensure public-sector salaries are paid. This funding is expected to support government cash flows, provide foreign-currency liquidity, stabilize the Yemeni rial, and strengthen the government's capacity to maintain essential services and improve living conditions.

Yemeni officials emphasize that Saudi budget support has been crucial in recent years, enabling the government to meet financial obligations like public-sector wages and basic services amid declining state revenues and the ongoing impact of the war. The assistance is also seen as vital for easing pressure on the national currency and allowing state institutions in government-controlled areas to continue operating despite persistent economic difficulties.

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The parallel initiatives aim to ease Yemen’s economic and humanitarian challenges.

Alongside the financial aid, Al-Alimi lauded Saudi Arabia's decision to extend the Masam Project, which clears landmines from Yemeni territory. He described the project as a significant humanitarian effort protecting civilians from mines planted by the Houthi movement. Al-Alimi noted that landmines are a devastating legacy of Yemen's conflict, causing deaths, injuries, and permanent disabilities among civilians.

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Saudi budget support has played a critical role in recent years by helping the government meet key financial obligations, particularly public-sector wages and basic services, at a time of declining state revenues and the continuing impact of war.

The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) confirmed the extension of the Masam Project for another year, allocating over $52.5 million to continue removing landmines and unexploded ordnance. The project involves Saudi personnel and international experts working with trained Yemeni teams, conducting clearance operations, public awareness campaigns, and capacity-building programs.

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Landmines remain among the most devastating legacies of Yemen’s conflict because of the deaths, injuries, and permanent disabilities they have caused among civilians.