Saudi Projects Worth $49.8 Billion Build Bridges of Hope for People with Disabilities
The world unites annually on December 3 to mark International Day of Persons with Disabilities, a global occasion dedicated to empowering individuals with disabilities and ensuring equitable access to healthcare, education, and cultural services without discrimination.
Since 2011, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has launched 66 projects worth $49.8 million to support people with disabilities, with 40 of these initiatives—totaling $39.2 million—implemented by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief).
A cornerstone of KSrelief’s efforts is its Artificial Limbs Program, which provides free, high-quality artificial limbs to amputees in Yemen and Syria. The program not only supplies prosthetic devices but also trains local professionals in their manufacture and strengthens healthcare institutions to ensure the long-term sustainability of these services. By enabling patients to reintegrate into society as contributing members, the program has brought hope and productivity to 26,088 beneficiaries.
The "Saudi Sama’a" Volunteer Program for Cochlear Implantation and Hearing Rehabilitation, spearheaded by KSreleif, was launched in July 2024. Under the leadership of Advisor at the Royal Court and KSrelief Supervisor General Dr. Abdullah Al-Rabeeah, the initiative stands out as the largest such humanitarian effort globally. It targets 940 cochlear implant surgeries for Syrian and Turkish children and provides 3,000 hearing aids. These procedures, the first conducted under volunteer medical programs, highlight Saudi Arabia’s commitment to advanced healthcare solutions for individuals with disabilities.
KSrelief also extended its outreach to Somalia, focusing on capacity building and providing essential educational, healthcare, and protection services for refugee children with disabilities.
Over 1 billion individuals, accounting for 15% of the global population, experience some type of disability. Many developing nations encounter considerable difficulties in meeting the healthcare, educational, and economic requirements of this population. International Day of Persons with Disabilities serves as a vital platform to advocate for this community and foster international cooperation to improve quality of life.
KSrelief’s active engagement in this global observance reflects Saudi Arabia’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the rights of persons with disabilities and fostering a more inclusive and equitable future for them worldwide.
