In brief
KSrelief, together with the World Food Programme and the Benevolence Coalition, launched the fourth phase of its Food to Resilience (FuTuRe) project in Al‑Masalah, Yemen. The phase will upgrade a fish landing centre, repair irrigation canals, rehabilitate wells, install solar‑powered irrigation, and train farmers in climate‑smart agriculture, aiming to strengthen food security for over 600 fishermen and surrounding communities.
In Al‑Masalah District, Yemen’s Al‑Mahra Governorate, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) held a workshop on Friday, 1 November 2026, to inaugurate the fourth phase of its Food to Resilience (FuTuRe) program, an effort designed to boost local food security through integrated agricultural and fisheries development.
FSuTuRe’s new phase focuses on several technical upgrades. First, the fish landing centre in Rakhut will be rehabilitated and upgraded to include an ice production unit, a measure intended to preserve catch quality and extend shelf life for more than 600 fishermen whose livelihoods depend on the sea. Second, irrigation infrastructure will be restored by repairing about 3,000 meters of canals, a task that is expected to improve water distribution efficiency. Third, 10 hectares of farmland will be reclaimed, and two water wells will be rehabilitated to secure reliable groundwater supplies.
Electrical power will also be modernized: five solar‑powered irrigation systems will be installed, covering a 28‑hectare area. Solar energy, a renewable and low‑maintenance power source, is expected to reduce operating costs for farmers and expand irrigation capacity without drawing on scarce grid electricity. Finally, the program includes educational components; farmers will receive training in climate‑smart agricultural practices, a set of techniques designed to increase yield while reducing environmental impact, such as improved crop rotation, precision water use, and resilience‑building soil management.
KSrelief announced that the multi‑partner effort, which also involves the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Benevolence Coalition for Humanitarian Relief, will be tied to conditional cash assistance targeted at the region’s most vulnerable households. The cash support is intended to supplement income from improved fishing and farming operations, thereby enhancing nutritional outcomes and stabilizing household food supplies.
During the event, Director‑General of Al‑Masalah District Fadl Al‑Duhaimi acknowledged KSrelief’s and WFP’s support. He noted that earlier phases of FuTuRe had positively impacted fishermen and farmers, a sentiment echoed by district officials who accompanied the KSrelief team during on‑site visits to the project sites, as well as by representatives of local agricultural and fisheries associations.
Technical Context and Expected Outcomes
The upgrade of the fish landing centre with an ice production unit exemplifies a targeted response to post‑harvest losses. Fish, a highly perishable commodity, loses quality rapidly when exposed to ambient temperatures; by providing on‑site refrigeration, the initiative reduces spoilage, allowing fishermen to fetch higher prices for their product. The intervention therefore tackles both supply‑side constraints and income volatility.
Improving canal integrity represents an intervention in the hydrological cycle of the district. By reconstructing 3,000 meters of irrigation canals, the program seeks to restore channel capacity and reduce water seepage, thereby increasing the water availability for downstream fields. Such hydraulic interventions are common in arid regions where inefficient water use can hinder crop production.
Reclaiming 10 hectares of farmland and rehabilitating wells will increase arable land area, a critical factor for Yemen, where land erosion and salinisation have eroded available agricultural space. Moreover, the proposed solar irrigation systems introduce renewable energy into the local agricultural loop, reducing carbon emissions and bolstering resilience to electricity shortages.
The inclusion of climate‑smart agriculture training reflects the growing emphasis on adaptive practices that can withstand climatic extremes. By teaching techniques such as diversified crop rotations, conservation tillage, and efficient irrigation scheduling, the program equips farmers with tools to mitigate risks from drought and flooding that are increasingly common in the region due to climate change.
In aggregate, the fourth phase of FuTuRe aims to strengthen food security through a multi‑sectoral, technology‑driven approach that integrates fisheries, irrigation, renewable energy, and agricultural education, while providing a safety net in the form of cash assistance. The initiative represents Saudi Arabia’s continued humanitarian strategy, delivered through KSrelief in partnership with the United Nations agencies to support the Yemeni population during prolonged conflict and economic hardship.
