Saudi Arabia Boosts Yemen Aid with Funds and Mine Clearance Extension

Saudi Arabia has bolstered its support for Yemen through substantial financial assistance and the renewal of a vital landmine clearance program, the Masam Project. These parallel efforts are designed to mitigate Yemen's severe economic and humanitarian challenges.

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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.

Yemen's Presidential Leadership Council Chairman, Rashad Al-Alimi, conveyed his profound gratitude to Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The kingdom announced a new budget support payment exceeding SAR 224 million (approximately $60 million), intended to help finance Yemen's budget deficit and ensure the payment of public-sector salaries. Saudi Ambassador to Yemen, Mohammed Al Jaber, highlighted that this funding will enhance government cash flow, provide foreign currency liquidity, stabilize the Yemeni rial, and strengthen the government's capacity to deliver essential services.

Saudi budget support has been instrumental in enabling the Yemeni government to meet its financial obligations, particularly salaries and basic services, amidst declining state revenues and the persistent impact of the ongoing conflict. This aid is also crucial for easing pressure on the national currency and maintaining the functionality of state institutions in government-controlled areas.

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The announcement was made by Saudi Ambassador to Yemen Mohammed Al Jaber, who also serves as general supervisor of the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen. He said the Saudi leadership had approved a new payment of more than SAR 224 million ($60 million) to help finance the Yemeni government’s budget deficit and cover public-sector salaries.

In addition to the financial aid, Al-Alimi welcomed the extension of the Masam Project for another year. He lauded the initiative as one of the most significant humanitarian programs protecting civilians from landmines planted by the Houthi movement. Al-Alimi emphasized that landmines remain a devastating legacy of Yemen's conflict, causing numerous deaths, injuries, and permanent disabilities. The project's extension signifies Saudi Arabia's ongoing commitment to Yemen's humanitarian needs and its investment in protecting Yemeni lives and securing affected communities.

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The funding would support government cash flows, provide foreign-currency liquidity, help stabilize the Yemeni rial, and strengthen the government’s ability to maintain essential services and improve living conditions.

The Masam Project, implemented by Saudi personnel and international experts in collaboration with trained Yemeni teams, will continue its efforts to remove landmines and unexploded ordnance. The King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) has allocated over $52.5 million for this year-long extension, which also includes public awareness campaigns and capacity-building programs.

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He described the initiative as one of the most significant humanitarian programs protecting civilians from mines planted by the Houthi movement across large areas of the country.