The Saudi program is rehabilitating fishermen's farms in Socotra
In a significant development step aimed at strengthening the infrastructure of the fisheries sector in Yemen, the Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) a vital project to rehabilitate the "Khaysah" fishermen's site in the Badahoula area, located in the southern part of the Socotra Archipelago. This initiative comes in response to the urgent need to support coastal communities and improve their livelihoods, especially after the environmental challenges the region has faced.
Project details and scope of achievement
The project included extensive engineering work at the Al-Khaysah site, which covers approximately 12,000 square meters . Field efforts focused on removing natural obstacles that had been hindering fishing activities, with nearly 25,000 cubic meters of sand and flood debris being cleared. This sediment had accumulated over the years due to the climatic conditions and tropical cyclones for which Socotra is known, previously burying the harbor and rendering it unusable.
The economic and social importance of fishermen
The fishing sector is the cornerstone of the local economy in the Socotra archipelago, where thousands of families depend on the sea as their sole source of income. This project directly benefits 240 fishermen who own approximately 80 boats, positively impacting the lives of 1,440 individuals from these fishermen's families. Before this intervention, fishermen endured immense physical hardship and toil manually hauling their boats ashore to protect them from strong currents, or attempting to launch them into the sea, which consumed their time and energy and reduced their actual working days.
Addressing environmental challenges in Socotra
The Socotra Archipelago Governorate is periodically subjected to harsh weather phenomena, including cyclones and low-pressure systems that bring with them torrential floods. These floods often flow into coastal areas, carrying with them enormous quantities of silt and sediment, which bury natural anchorages (known locally as "khaysah"). The Saudi program's intervention came as a radical solution to this accumulated problem, restoring the site's capacity and enabling boats to moor safely, thus ensuring the sustainability of fishing activity even under volatile weather conditions.
The developmental role of the Saudi program
The Saudi Development and Reconstruction Program for Yemen (SDRPY) is not limited to this project alone; it falls within a comprehensive strategy to support vital sectors in Yemen, such as health, education, water, and energy. The rehabilitation of Khaysah Badhoulah reflects the program's commitment to supporting food security and empowering local communities to become self-reliant by providing a safe and productive work environment for a broad segment of the Yemeni population.
