Dr. Al Jutaily spoke about the challenges facing humanitarian workers in Yemen due to the illegal activities of Houthi militias. These militias often loot and confiscate shipments intended for needy recipients. From 2015 to date, Houthi militias have confiscated or looted 65 aid ships, 124 relief convoys, 628 aid semi-trucks, 5,500 food baskets and 6,000 bags of wheat flour. He added that the Houthis have also carried out attacks and other illegal violations against UN and relief organizations and workers; these actions include killing and kidnapping aid workers, and blocking entry to, looting and forcibly closing humanitarian organization offices in Sanaa, Taiz, Hajjah, Al Hudaydah, Ibb and Aden.

He spoke about the important role played by the Coalition Forces in facilitating the entry of aid and the issuance of air, sea and land permits. 14,444 permits have been issued for international aid organizations. The Coalition Forces are keen to protect civilians, particularly children and women, through the more than 40,000 protection zones set up throughout the country.

He urged the UN and the rest of the international community in documenting the illegal actions of Houthi militias against humanitarian efforts in Yemen. Militias’ targeting of civilians, including children and women, and using children as tools in the conflict are flagrant violations of international humanitarian law. He encouraged international humanitarian organizations not to restrict their office locations to Sana'a only, since focusing on Sana’a might unduly influence the country’s political direction via local staff and create a bias in operations and permitting activities. Distributing offices throughout Yemen, he said, will help to ensure equitable representation of all areas and populations and support social justice for all. 

Dr. Al Jutaily added that KSrelief was able to deliver urgent assistance to Taiz by air-dropping 85 tons of relief aid and oxygen cylinders even though the area was under siege by Houthi militias.

KSrelief has received commendations and expressions of appreciation from UN officials and the world for its fair and generous support of all in need. The center operates and supplies the Al Salam Hospital in Saada and Al Saudi Hospital in Hajjah, further proof that KSrelief is working on a parallel path with other international and civil aid organizations to ensure the well-being and safety of as many Yemenis in need as possible. 

Dr. Al Jutaily also outlined KSrelief’s work to fight the cholera epidemic in Yemen. Although there were some cases of cholera in Yemen before 2014, many more cases have been diagnosed since the start of the conflict. Because of aggressive international efforts, recovery rates for the disease have now reached 99% of identified cases – a great success story for KSrelief and other groups involved in combatting cholera in Yemen. 

The Head of KSrelief’s Community Support Department, Mr. Abdullah Al Rwaily, spoke next, adding that the Kingdom has not spared any efforts in providing support and services for women and children. 68 KSrelief projects focus on women, and 80 on children; education, protection, food security, health, water and environmental sanitation are among the sectors in which the center has become actively involved to help vulnerable populations of women and children. 

Mr. Al Ruwaily also spoke about KSrelief’s project to rehabilitate 2,000 child soldiers who were recruited by Houthi militias and used as tools in the conflict. The center’s program provides support to these children and their families to help them overcome the trauma caused by this inhuman practice.