Mogadishu (KAAB TV) – Saudi Arabia has significantly ramped up its humanitarian and development assistance in Somalia, demonstrating a broad and multi‑sectoral approach through the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) and the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD).
In May 2025, KSrelief delivered 1,155 food baskets to internally displaced and impoverished families in Baidoa, Bay region—reaching approximately 6,930 individuals.
As part of emergency flood relief efforts, KSrelief distributed 1,220 baskets in Kahda and Jarsbaley camps in Banadir, supporting 7,320 affected individuals.
In Garasbaley District (Banadir Region), a further 555 food baskets were provided to around 3,330 people in May 2025, under the fourth phase of KSrelief’s 2025 Food Security Support Project.
Continuing its efforts into July 2025, KSrelief distributed 670 food baskets, benefitting 4,555 individuals across several regions.
Shelter & Basic Supplies
In April 2025, KSrelief aided 1,010 displaced families in Aynaba, Sool Region by delivering 780 clothing bags, 190 shelter bags, and 40 tents as part of its ongoing shelter support project.
Healthcare & Nutrition
In late May 2025, KSrelief signed a partnership with the International Wars and Disaster Victims’ Protection Association to launch Phase III of a dialysis center at Banadir Hospital in Mogadishu, expected to serve 665 patients with kidney-related conditions.
Building on earlier efforts, KSrelief contributed US$4.5 million in 2024 through WFP to treat and prevent malnutrition among more than 57,300 pregnant or breastfeeding women and 122,850 children under two.
Together with the UK government and UNICEF, Saudi Arabia committed US$5 million in May 2024 to scale up nutrition and WASH (water, sanitation & hygiene) programs across six Somali regions.
Water Access & Infrastructure
The Saudi Fund for Development, in collaboration with UNDP, launched a project in February 2025 to install 10 solar-powered boreholes across key Somali districts, providing clean water to over 120,000 drought-affected people, with long-term benefits expected to reach more than 3 million residents.
Somalia faces severe humanitarian challenges exacerbated by drought, recurrent flooding, displacement, and a volatile security environment due to the ongoing Shabelle offensive by al-Shabaab. In this context, Saudi Arabia’s diverse support—from emergency food deliveries and shelter kits to healthcare facilities and water infrastructure—addresses immediate needs while laying groundwork for resilience and recovery.
The interventions also reflect Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy, which emphasizes global humanitarian leadership, sustainable development, and regional solidarity.
While humanitarian programmes are at the forefront, Saudi Arabia has also engaged in diplomatic avenues. Somalia’s Ministry of Justice is working with Saudi authorities under the Riyadh Agreement to monitor Somali nationals imprisoned in Saudi Arabia and explore options for prisoner transfers—demonstrating bilateral legal cooperation.
Labour cooperation agreements signed in December 2024 aim to regulate and protect Somali workers employed in the Kingdom.
Saudi Arabia has signaled its intention to sustain and expand relief programming in Somalia. KSrelief continues to plan further phases of food, health, and shelter interventions, coordinating with Somali authorities and partner organisations to ensure efficient delivery of aid.
The SFD‑UNDP water initiative is slated to complete by December 2026, promoting sustainable community access to clean water.