Al-hodeida: Al-Hodeida Governorate has recently witnessed a wide range of projects and initiatives in the fields of charity, economic empowerment, health, and agriculture, with a total cost exceeding 2 billion riyals. These projects targeted thousands of families, health facilities, and productive entities across the governorate's districts, coinciding with the commemoration of the anniversary of the noble Prophet's birth (Mawlid al-Nabawi).
According to Yemen News Agency, the total cost of the projects and initiatives reached 2,228,347,000 riyals, funded by the General Authority for Zakat, the General Authority for the Care of Martyrs' Families, the local authority, the Yaman Foundation, the Yemeni Red Sea Ports Corporation, the Agricultural Finance Unit, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. The funds were distributed across cash and food aid, economic empowerment projects, health facility rehabilitation and equipment, and support for agricultural cooperatives.
In the charity sector, the General Authority for Zakat allocated 888 million riyals for cash aid to approximately 40,000 poor and needy families across the governorate's districts, in addition to 242 million riyals for food baskets distributed to 12,100 families in a number of districts.
Economic empowerment projects included 255 million riyals to empower 170 beneficiaries in livestock, fisheries, and beekeeping in Al-Hujaylah, Al-Zaydiyah, Al-Qanawis, Al-Luhayyah, and Al-Zahra districts, in addition to 89 million riyals to empower 94 families of martyrs in the northern districts.
In the health sector, projects totaled 593,715,000 riyals, including the reconstruction of the Childhood and Motherhood Health Center in Al-Durayhimi, the construction of a diagnostic radiology building at Al-Zaydiyah Hospital, and the rehabilitation and equipping of health facilities in Al-Tuhayta, Al-Salif, Kamaran, Al-Durayhimi, Al-Dahi, and Al-Hujaylah.
The health projects also included the supply and installation of radiology equipment, equipping obstetric emergency units, operating room rehabilitation, and the restoration and rehabilitation of a number of hospitals and health buildings, including Al-Salif, Kamaran, Al-Durayhimi, Al-Dahi hospitals, and the Abal Center.
In the agricultural sector, the projects included support for cooperative associations in the governorate with 20 seeders and 22 sieves at a cost of 88 million riyals, in addition to support for the Al-Iktaf Agricultural Cooperative Association in Al-Merawah District with milk production supplies for 200 farmers at a cost of 72,632,000 riyals.
The Governor of Al-Hodeida, Abdullah Atifi, affirmed that the implementation of these projects and initiatives reflects a commitment to directing resources toward priorities that directly affect citizens' lives, foremost among them caring for poor and needy families, improving health services, and supporting productive activities that provide income sources for families and local communities.
He pointed out that the economic empowerment, health, and agricultural projects complement the local authority's efforts in supporting vital sectors, and creating conditions for families and producers to benefit from the projects and initiatives, contributing to improving living standards and revitalizing productive and service activity in the districts.
Atifi noted that the coincidence of these projects with the commemoration of the Mawlid al-Nabawi embodies the values of solidarity, charity, and care for the community, translating the occasion into works and initiatives from which citizens benefit, affirming continued work to expand the scope of development and service projects and direct them toward the actual needs of the governorate.
For his part, the Director of the Health and Environment Office in the governorate, Dr. Ali Al-Haddad, explained that the health projects implemented in recent periods focused on rehabilitating health facilities and providing equipment and medical devices, enhancing their capacity to provide healthcare services to citizens, and raising the level of response to health needs in the targeted districts.
He stated that supporting, rehabilitating, and equipping health facilities contributes to improving the medical work environment and expanding the scope of services provided, particularly in the areas of emergency, obstetrics, radiology, and surgeries, emphasizing the importance of continued support for the health sector to keep pace with population needs and enhance the quality of health services.
Meanwhile, the Director of the General Authority for Zakat office in the governorate, Mohammed Haza, explained that the charity projects implemented by the Authority focused on delivering cash and food aid to poor and needy families in various districts, alleviating their living burdens and reinforcing social solidarity.
He pointed out that expanding the scope of charity and empowerment projects comes within the framework of directing zakat resources toward their legitimate channels, reaching beneficiaries directly, in addition to supporting projects that provide families with opportunities to improve their living conditions and rely on more sustainable income sources.
These projects reflect the diversity of support pathways witnessed in the governorate, from supporting the most needy families, to improving health services, to enhancing production and empowerment opportunities, addressing community needs and supporting resilience and improving living standards across various districts.