KSrelief Signs an Agreement to Provide Safe Drinking Water for Drought-Affected Communities in Somalia

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA: King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) signed a cooperation agreement with a civil society organization to provide safe drinking water for drought-affected communities by drilling and rehabilitating several solar-powered artesian wells in Somalia; the total amount of the agreement is USD 5 million.

The agreement was signed by KSrelief’s Assistant Supervisor General for Operations and Programs, Eng. Ahmed Al Baiz, at the Centre's headquarters in Riyadh.

Dr. Abdullah Al Moallem, KSrelief’s Head of the Health & Environmental Aid Department, explained that under the agreement, 24 high-productivity artesian wells will be drilled; 20 artesian wells will be rehabilitated; sanitation and hygiene education program will be held for families in the targeted areas; and water resources management committees will be trained on well operating and maintenance systems.

Dr. Al Moallem explained that these wells will provide assistance to the people in Somalia by providing permanent and renewable sources of safe drinking water, in addition to increasing the access of beneficiaries and their livestock to clean water. He stated that this will contribute to reducing the effects of drought and alleviating its consequences. Dr. Al Moallem said that more than million individuals will benefit from the project.

Dr. Al Moallem touched on the relief and humanitarian projects implemented by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Somalia which worth more than USD 400 million, according to the Saudi Aid Platform. He indicated that KSrelief has recently implemented projects with the cost of USD 190 million including many humanitarian fields, namely, community support, health, WASH, emergency relief, food, and malnutrition prevention.

This comes as part of the continuous humanitarian and relief support provided by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the Somali people.