Saudi Arabia’s King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre (KSrelief) has facilitated the voluntary return of 154 Somali refugees from Yemen to Somalia, as part of an ongoing humanitarian effort aimed at assisting vulnerable populations affected by years of conflict and instability in Yemen.
The repatriation operation began at Aden International Airport and was carried out in cooperation with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The initiative forms part of broader humanitarian and protection programs designed to support refugees and displaced people living in difficult conditions across Yemen.
According to officials involved in the operation, the refugees were assisted through a voluntary return process that included logistical support, travel arrangements, and the completion of necessary procedures to ensure their safe return to Somalia.
UNHCR Representative in Yemen, Armen Yedgaryan, praised KSrelief for its role in facilitating the repatriation effort and for helping establish the arrangements required for Somali refugees to return home voluntarily and with dignity.
“The support provided by KSrelief has been crucial in enabling this voluntary return operation and ensuring that refugees are able to complete the necessary procedures for their journey back to Somalia,” Yedgaryan said.
The return of the 154 refugees is part of wider humanitarian efforts underway in Yemen to assist refugees and other vulnerable groups affected by the country’s prolonged crisis.
Yemen has hosted thousands of Somali refugees for decades, many of whom fled conflict and instability in Somalia seeking safety across the Gulf of Aden.
However, Yemen’s own civil war, which began in 2014, has created severe humanitarian challenges, leaving many refugees facing difficult living conditions, limited access to services, and growing economic hardship.
As a result, international organizations and humanitarian agencies have increasingly supported voluntary repatriation programs for Somalis wishing to return home.
KSrelief, one of Saudi Arabia’s leading humanitarian organizations, has been involved in a range of relief and development projects across Somalia and Yemen, including food assistance, healthcare support, emergency relief operations, and refugee protection initiatives.
The latest repatriation operation underscores ongoing international efforts to provide durable solutions for refugees while supporting safe, voluntary, and dignified returns for those seeking to rebuild their lives in Somalia.