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Saba Yemen
2 days ago
- Health
- Saba Yemen
Social Affairs Minister inspects displaced persons, homeless, beggar care centers for Eid al-Adha
Sana'a – Saba: Minister of Social Affairs and Labor Samir Baja'alah on Sunday conducted visits to several centers caring for displaced persons, the homeless (unaccompanied mentally ill), and beggars in Sana'a Governorate and the capital, Sana'a. During his visit to a center for displaced persons in Bani Hashish, accompanied by Undersecretary for Social Welfare Sector Yasser Sharaf al-Din and Director of Monitoring and Evaluation Mohammed al-Razza', Minister Baja'alah exchanged Eid al-Adha greetings with the displaced individuals. He directed that their needs be met and Eid gifts distributed to the children, emphasizing the Ministry's focus on displaced persons, with future plans for rehabilitation and empowerment projects to improve their livelihoods and self-reliance. Minister Baja'alah and Undersecretary Sharaf also reviewed the services provided by the National Program for the Care and Shelter of the Homeless (Unaccompanied Mentally Ill) at its main center in Sana'a. They distributed gifts to patients and inspected the facilities, including shelter, treatment, and nutrition services. The Minister commended the efforts of the center's staff and affirmed the Ministry's commitment to supporting the center's needs and humanitarian services, in line with leadership directives. Furthermore, Baja'alah inspected the conditions of residents at the al-Rafah Center for Social Care for the Homeless, which is part of the National Program to Address the Phenomenon of Begging in the Capital Sana'a. He presented Eid gifts to the residents and received updates from Program Executive Director Yasser Sharaf al-Din and al-Rafah Center Director Dr. Abdullah Nahshal on various aspects of care, including health, rehabilitation, and economic empowerment programs. The Minister of Social Affairs highlighted that these visits aim to check on the conditions of displaced persons, unaccompanied mentally ill individuals, and beggars in the ministry's shelters and specialized care centers, and to share the joy of the Eid holiday, thereby strengthening social solidarity, instilling principles of benevolence, and bringing smiles to their faces. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print more of (Local)
Saba Yemen
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Saba Yemen
Workshop launches to advance inclusion of persons with disabilities in Yemen
Sana'a - Saba: A mobilization and advocacy workshop aimed at implementing the National Strategy for the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities 2021-2025 commenced on Wednesday in the capital Sana'a. Organized by the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor in collaboration with Handicap, the two-day event brings together 40 government agencies, relevant local associations, and international organizations. The workshop's focus is on the implementation plan of the National Strategy, encompassing its objectives, initiatives, and activities designed to promote the inclusion of persons with disabilities. At the opening ceremony, Yasser Sharaf al-Din, Assistant Undersecretary of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor, underscored the critical importance of protecting vulnerable groups, particularly people with disabilities, citing it as a humanitarian and legal obligation under international humanitarian law and UN conventions, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and relevant UN Security Council resolutions. Sharaf al-Din criticized the significant reduction in financial and programmatic support for vulnerable groups and the withdrawal of some international organizations, arguing that these actions contradict their founding principles, especially given the dire humanitarian situation in Yemen, where millions, including persons with disabilities and displaced individuals, rely on aid. He condemned the withdrawal or reduction of support due to political pressure as a blatant violation of the principles of neutrality and independence enshrined in the UN's core values. He questioned the concept of global justice when the most needy are marginalized by discriminatory decisions that weaponize starvation and impose sudden withdrawals without alternatives, asserting that this contradicts international conventions and principles that should not turn aid into a tool of political coercion. Sharaf al-Din deemed such funding decisions without exhausting humanitarian and legal options as a dereliction of responsibility, especially considering the UN Refugee Agency's reports of over 20 million people in need in Yemen, with numbers rising as funding declines. He urged international organizations to adhere to their charters and avoid making support programs subject to political fluctuations. He also called for reprioritizing funding for programs targeting persons with disabilities, displaced persons, and other vulnerable groups, ensuring their needs are integrated into all phases of the humanitarian response. Furthermore, he advocated for stronger partnerships with local organizations possessing the expertise and capacity to reach target populations and urged the utilization of the workshop's outcomes to guide organizations' plans in supporting the needs of persons with disabilities, who constitute approximately 15 percent of the population. Abdullah Binyan, President of the National Federation of Associations for the Disabled, referenced the Berlin International Declaration, which emphasized the protection and care of persons with disabilities and stipulated that 15 percent of projects should be allocated to their care and protection. He stressed the importance of developing inclusive programs and plans as a fundamental human rights principle. He urged organizations in the disability sector to implement more projects addressing the needs of this vulnerable segment. Amir al-Warith, Executive Director of the Social Welfare Fund, and Othman al-Selwi, Chairman of the Monitoring and Follow-up Committee of the National Strategy and Deputy Executive Director of the Fund for the Disabled, both emphasized the importance of coordinating efforts among government agencies, local disability organizations, and international organizations to meet the basic needs of persons with disabilities. Al-Selwi noted that the Monitoring and Follow-up Committee has secured 25 rights for persons with disabilities, signed with relevant official entities, and that work is underway for their implementation. Whatsapp Telegram Email Print
